McLaren Remains Optimistic for Drivers' Title Despite Verstappen's Abu Dhabi Pole
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella maintains confidence in his team's ability to win the Drivers' Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite Max Verstappen's pole position. Stella praised Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's close performance throughout the season and qualifying, emphasizing that while Verstappen had a slight edge, McLaren extracted maximum performance. The team is now focused on race day execution to clinch the title in a complex, multi-driver battle.
McLaren's Andrea Stella believes the Drivers' Championship is still within reach for his team, even after Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Stella emphasized that both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are performing at a high level, making the title battle an internal as well as external fight.
Why it matters:
McLaren's continued belief in their championship chances, despite Verstappen's dominant pole, underscores the tight nature of the 2025 season finale. For McLaren, clinching the drivers' title would signify a massive leap forward and validate their rapid development trajectory throughout the year, challenging Red Bull's recent dominance.
The Details:
- Close Contention: Andrea Stella highlighted the consistent, close performance between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri throughout the season, describing it as the "story of the season." This close rivalry positions both drivers as legitimate contenders for the championship in the final race.
- Qualifying Performance: Stella expressed satisfaction with his drivers' performance, noting that they "managed to extract what was available in the car today." While Verstappen and Red Bull had a slight edge, McLaren believes they maximized their package.
- Tightest Qualifying: The Abu Dhabi qualifying session was described as one of the "tightest" of the season, with the entire field being exceptionally compact. This suggests that small margins will make a significant difference in the race.
- Verstappen's Pole: Max Verstappen secured pole position with a lap time of 1:22.207, over two-tenths faster than Norris, demonstrating Red Bull's strong pace ahead of the final race.
What's next:
The Drivers' Championship will be decided in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri all in contention. McLaren's strategy will need to be flawless, especially with George Russell and Charles Leclerc also expected to be in the mix. The team is focused on delivering their best performance on race day to provide Norris and Piastri with every possible opportunity to secure the championship. The outcome will not only determine the 2025 champion but also set the tone for the rivalry heading into the next season.