McLaren Boss Stella Confident Drivers' Championship Within Reach Amid Verstappen Surge

McLaren boss Andrea Stella remains confident that the 2025 Formula One Drivers' Championship is still in McLaren's control despite Red Bull's Max Verstappen winning three of the last four races and closing the gap to 40 points behind leader Oscar Piastri. McLaren has already secured the Constructors' title for the second consecutive year, with Piastri leading teammate Lando Norris by 14 points. Stella highlighted Norris's strong performance at the U.S. Grand Prix, where he finished second behind Verstappen and managed to overtake Ferrari's Charles Leclerc twice, asserting that McLaren had the pace to win if not for being held up at the start. Despite setbacks such as the collision between Norris and Piastri in the Sprint race, Stella emphasized the importance of maximizing performance and executing strong race weekends to maintain their advantage. Verstappen remains a serious contender but McLaren believes the championship outcome depends on their own efforts, not external factors. With five races remaining, McLaren aims to capitalize on upcoming tracks favoring their car to secure the Drivers’ title, which they have not won since 2008.