McLaren team principal Andrea Stella remains confident that Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris can hold off Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the final five Formula 1 races. McLaren is focused on going on the offensive rather than defending its position in the championship.
Verstappen has beaten the McLaren pair in the last four races, including Singapore, where he finished second ahead of Norris and Piastri. This run has cut his deficit to just 40 points, reigniting the fight for a fifth straight world title. But Stella believes the upcoming rounds give McLaren a real chance to fight back.
“The fact that there are five races and two sprints means that we can also increase the gap to Max. That’s how I see things,” Stella said. “I think we have good tracks coming for our car.”
McLaren Eyes Qatar to Regain Momentum
McLaren is expected to shine in Qatar, while Red Bull remains strong in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. Stella has made it clear the team will not take a defensive approach.
Their confidence partly stems from missed opportunities earlier. In Austin, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri retired at the start of the sprint, leaving McLaren without valuable data and forcing them to run more conservative setups.
Piastri also had a rough outing in Baku, crashing in qualifying and the race, while both drivers struggled for pace at critical points.
“We have more that we could have exploited out of our car,” Stella conceded. “And to some extent, the drivers recognise themselves that they could have done a better job in some of the previous races.
“So, I think we look at the next five races as opportunities to increase the gap on Max.”
‘The Outcome Is in Our Hands’
Stella stressed that the team intends to control its own destiny in the title battle. “We have a large opportunity and the outcome of this season and the drivers’ championship is in our hands. It’s not in someone else’s hands. That’s the mindset that we want to have and that’s the mindset that we will have.”
With Piastri leading the standings and Norris showing consistent form, McLaren is determined to challenge Verstappen and Red Bull head-on in the season’s decisive stretch.
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