Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, insists that Max Verstappen is still in contention for the world championship following the Sprint Qualifying of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
After the Sprint Qualifying at Interlagos, Andrea Stella commented on the ongoing championship battle and how it remains wide open.
The session saw a brilliant Lando Norris secure pole position, showcasing once again the strong form he had recovered in Mexico. He shared the front row with McLaren teammate Kimi Antonelli, who delivered a phenomenal lap that split the two papaya-colored cars. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen could only manage sixth place, gradually seeing his championship hopes slip away.
Despite these results, Andrea Stella remains attentive to the broader situation, with Verstappen, Mercedes, and Fernando Alonso still very close to the two McLarens.
“The drivers were extremely close in free practice and in qualifying. I believe this has been the story of the entire season between Lando and Oscar,” Andrea Stella explained to Sky Sports after qualifying.
“It’s positive that they are so close and that the car is so fast. It’s a strong starting position for this Sprint weekend. We are also very close to our main rivals.”
Is Max Verstappen still a threat to McLaren and the championship?
Stella also looked at Max Verstappen’s situation, who was relegated to sixth place.
“Verstappen, as we know… he is Verstappen. Tomorrow he will be there fighting. So I believe there are all the conditions for a competitive Sprint weekend.”
Has Oscar Piastri regained his early-season form?
Besides the Dutch driver, Andrea Stella highlighted that Oscar Piastri has returned to form after a difficult period earlier in the season.
“I think in Austin and Mexico Oscar faced technical issues. He couldn’t adapt his natural driving style to the car, which prevented him from achieving competitive lap times.”
“We already saw improvements in Mexico after qualifying. In the race, Oscar Piastri was already quite fast but couldn’t show his full potential due to traffic. I believe here in Brazil he has returned to his best form.”
“I’m sure he still wants to shave off a few tenths of a second. It’s a shame he had a minor mistake in turn 1.”
Weather situation for the Brazilian GP
The McLaren team principal concluded his interview by addressing the weather situation. Forecasts indicate a challenging day, with a level 4 rain alert – the highest possible – in effect.
“We are at Interlagos, where the weather is always a very important factor. Beyond speed, we will need to be very good at managing and executing our strategy,” Andrea Stella explained.
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