Andrea Stella puts an end to any rumors of internal favoritism at McLaren and emphasizes that the battle with Max Verstappen will remain fair: “As long as the numbers allow it, they will race on equal terms.”
With five races remaining, the fight for the Drivers’ Championship is entering a critical phase, and debate is heating up within McLaren: who will be the true team leader between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? With Max Verstappen in full comeback mode and the Australian’s lead reduced to just 14 points over his teammate, Andrea Stella clarified the team’s philosophy.
“Only the mathematics can force us to choose a number one driver,” the team principal told PlanetF1. “As long as both have a chance at the title, they are free to fight. In Formula 1, surprises are always possible: the door only closes when the numbers dictate it.”
The message is clear: McLaren does not want to destabilize internal balance, aiming instead to maximize every weekend to increase the gap over Max Verstappen. Andrea Stella highlighted that the upcoming circuits could favor the MCL39, convinced that “the car’s full potential has not yet been realized.” – the McLaren team boss explained ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
The Italian manager also reminded fans that F1 history is full of twists: “In 2007 and 2010, the championship was decided in the final race, and often it was the third driver who won. That’s why we will not issue team orders until the math closes the door.”
With the championship wide open and Red Bull back in pursuit, McLaren is preparing for a thrilling season finale, where every point could change the hierarchy between its two rising stars.
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