Recess is over
The family feud has ended, or more precisely, there is now a new contender for the championship crown. Even Max Verstappen himself openly communicates his ambitions through official team channels. The reigning world champion’s rise in the drivers’ standings has been faster than anyone expected. From Monza onward, out of 108 points available, Verstappen claimed 101.
This success is thanks to an improved car, despite earlier prospects offering little hope. Added to that is a cautious approach from McLaren’s driver pairing, who focused more on avoiding mistakes than pushing for victories. However, Max has now rung the bell, and recess is over. The championship is no longer a family affair.
Additionally, Red Bull is likely to be competitive on every track, meaning teams cannot rely on favorable layouts for advantage. Oscar and Lando are not free in mind, understandably so given the clear opportunity to secure their first career championship. This is a new scenario, even though Lando had tried to challenge Verstappen in the latter half of last season.
Oscar contradicts McLaren
At least in words, the young Australian talent appeared quite composed ahead of the Mexico GP. He admitted that he no longer feels the pressure he experienced in junior categories while fighting for titles. He is not concerned about being the prey or the hunter, though naturally he prefers to manage an advantage, demonstrating that he has performed well.
One of the most interesting points from the pre-race interviews concerned Verstappen’s climb in the standings. Oscar expressed surprise at the reigning champion’s powerful return to the championship fight. While Max’s absolute value is undisputed, what impressed the Australian driver was the performance leap of the blue racing car on any track type.
This statement contrasts with Andrea Stella’s position. The team principal from Orvieto has repeatedly stated in internal discussions that Verstappen was never dismissed as a contender for the championship. It is hard to disagree with Oscar, given that McLaren once held a lead of over 100 points. Is this a case of subtle overconfidence? Possibly.
The Verstappen/Red Bull combination has appeared almost unbeatable since the Italian Grand Prix. The greatest frustration for McLaren’s drivers has been failing to consistently stay just behind the Dutch ace. Oscar, in particular, has certainly achieved less than he could have, despite driving a car that remains extremely competitive.
Resetting the “Papaya rules”
As expected, the Sprint Race incident in Austin reset the “Papaya rules.” Following the start-line contact at the Singapore GP, McLaren had decided to penalize Lando Norris’ action, granting Oscar Piastri priority for pit exit in all subsequent qualifying sessions. This system was somewhat unclear and did not fully explain certain situations.
However, Oscar Piastri’s crash at the United States GP, which took out both McLaren cars, removed that benefit. Even here, it remains unclear how McLaren is managing a situation with so many grey areas. The decision was confirmed by Oscar himself during a press conference, reinforcing the impression that the ethical code imposed on the drivers has become something of a joke.
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