McLaren’s team director Andrea Stell admitted that Max Verstappen “makes the difference” in the early wheels of the 2025 F1 season to keep up with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastrim.
After the stunning victory, the last time in Suzuce, Verstappen hitchhiking Norris just one point with Piastri another 12 points behind this weekend Bahrain Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, McLaren had a car to defeat, but Piastri’s rotation in Australia and Norris’s difficult sprint in China, associated with Verstappen, maximizes his results, that the battle of the championship remains at least three -way struggles.
“We treat Max and Red Bull like the others until we stopped a little (order of kneeling),” Stella said.
“Hamilton won the sprint in China, Russell was competitive in the race in China, in Suzuce we had Red Bull and max.
“Definitely the most important condition for watching both championships is to have the best car. It is important that when we are not in a state to win, we are racing in a robust way.
“Max makes the difference alone at the moment, but it’s very difficult to keep up for 24 events in the season if you don’t have the best car.”
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McLaren Lando Norris and Driver Red Bull Verstappen respond to their clash stops on the Japanese Grand Prix
Stella: McLaren must work on the highest standards
Norris questioned McLaren’s strategy by watching Verstappen on all 53 rounds of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, including stops at stops when he stopped at the same time.
High -speed corners mean that watching the car at the front is difficult, which should not be a problem in Bahrain, where overtaking is significantly simpler.
Therefore, McLaren will start the weekend again as a favorite, even if they do not qualify themselves in the position of the pole, their excellent racial pace should give them a chance to return forward.
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Experience a close clash between Norris and Verstappen when they came out of the pit and left Norrisa in the grass as they fought for leading in Suzuka
Stella says that McLaren has “a lot of work to clean” its opponents before Norris and Piastri can only “strengthen” the message for the title and Verstappen.
“We know that to defeat Max and Red Bull, we have to work at the highest level, but we also have to work consistently,” he added.
“If you don’t win and you’re P2-P3, it’s still a robust way to race and I think it’s worth it at the end of the season.”
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McLaren team director Andrea Stella explains why Piastri was not ordered to exchange Norris positions, despite the radio news of the Australian claim “had the pace”
Alonso hails ‘excellent’ Verstappen
The double world champion F1 Fernando Alonso was admirer of Verstappen and showed the support of the Dutch during his title battles in the last five seasons.
Alonso sees similarities this season until 2012, when he took the title race until the last round of the season, although what many felt was a much slower car in Ferrari, compared to possible champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.
“So far he (Verstappen) is doing well and keeps the championship alive. He has to improve the car a little to be really able to fight for the championship for a long time,” he said Sky Sports F1.
“It reminds me a little in 2012 when you fight with the third or fourth fastest car until the last race and eventually Vettel won the championship. I’m afraid it will happen again with Max. But if someone can do it.”
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Driving on board with Verstappen when he claimed the Japanese pole Grand Prix 2024 on the iconic Suzuka circuit
Alonso was particularly left after Verstappen caught the pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix and sees it that he is a clear best driver in F1.
“He’s an excellent driver and shows it every weekend. The flap he did was on him,” he said.
“Apparently, the car is not at the level to fight for the pole, or even the top five, but it can do magic wheels and magical weekends.
“So at the moment it is best, it is a link for all of us and we must constantly improve to achieve this level.”
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Verstappen was left in disbelief after grabbing the pole from McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri on the Japanese Grand Prix
Bahrain GP Sky Sports F1
Thursday 10th April
- 14:00: Driver’s press conference
Friday 11th April
- 8.50: 00: Practice F3
- 10:00: Practice F2
- 12:00: Bahrain GP Practice One (session starts at 12:30)*
- 1.55: 00: Qualification F3
- 2,40: 00: Qualification F2
- 15:35: Bahrain GP Practice Two (session starts at 16:00)
- 17:15: Show F1
Saturday 12th April
- 11.10: 10: F3 Sprint Race
- 13:15: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 13:30)
- 15:10: F2 Sprint
- 16:10: Bahrain GP qualification accumulation
- 17:00: Bahrain GP qualification
- 19:00: Ted’s qualifying notebook
Sunday 13th April
- 10.50: 00: F3 Feature race
- 12.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 14:30: Bahrain GP Building: Grand Prix Sunday
- 16:00: Bahrain Grand Prix
- 18:00: Bahrain GP Reaction: Chessboard
- 19:00: Ted’s notebook
*Live also at the main Sky Sports event
Formula 1 continues its triple header in Sakhir for Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract whenever cancel
