Following Max Verstappen’s recent triumphs in Azerbaijan and Monza, McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella reaffirmed that the Red Bull driver remains a force in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship race. Yet Stella also delivered a stern reminder to his own drivers: in a championship this tight, any slip-up could be costly.

‘Capital YES’ — Stella Doubles Down

When asked if he believed that Verstappen was still a contender for the title, Stella insisted “a firm yes” — and requested it be written in **capital letters**. That declaration comes after Verstappen delivered yet another dominant weekend in Baku, pulling himself back into title contention.

Stella didn’t back away from it after the race either, stating: “We’re talking about Max Verstappen, we’re talking about Red Bull.” He added that the Dutch driver has proven time and again that when his car is competitive, he can produce exceptional results.

Verstappen’s Momentum & McLaren’s Struggles

Verstappen’s back-to-back wins in Monza and Baku have narrowed the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to **69 points**, with seven races still remaining.

For McLaren, the Azerbaijan weekend was a mixed bag. Piastri crashed out on lap 1, while Lando Norris failed to make progress from P7. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda secured a strong P6 to contribute to the team’s overall points haul.

Stella acknowledged that McLaren encountered reliability concerns and setup issues throughout the weekend, which compounded the challenges for his drivers. He emphasized these are lessons the team must absorb as the championship intensifies

Why Verstappen Still Can’t Be Dismissed

Despite being behind in the standings, Verstappen’s status as a multiple-time world champion and Red Bull’s improving form make him a dangerous contender. Stella pointed out that Red Bull’s upgrades and pace improvements — especially visible at Monza — can’t be overlooked.

According to Stella, Verstappen’s ability to extract peak performance when conditions align means he must remain in McLaren’s strategic calculations. He said that when Red Bull gets a well-balanced car, Verstappen “can deliver strong weekends.”

But even so, Stella noted that McLaren’s own drivers must guard against mistakes: “In Formula 1, at the top level, you cannot afford errors — because your rivals are ready to pounce.”

McLaren’s Warning: Precision Is Paramount

Stella didn’t mince words: with competition this close, any misstep could be exploited by Verstappen or others. He reminded his drivers that in such a dense field, zero margin for error is practically the rule.

He reflected that earlier in the season, potential threats came from Mercedes and internal inconsistencies. But now, Red Bull has climbed back into the picture, making the window for mistakes even narrower.

Stella also noted that certain reliability issues and misalignments this past weekend cost valuable performance. The team must better manage such factors as the season moves forward.

Looking Ahead: Singapore & Beyond

McLaren enters the Singapore Grand Prix aware that the track’s characteristics may favor them — and that a strong result could reassert their dominance. Stella expressed hope that McLaren can return to winning form, while also keeping a close eye on how Red Bull’s resurgence plays out.

Still, he insisted the title fight is far from over. With each race carrying huge weight, the balance between ambition and risk will be delicate. And Verstappen, according to Stella, should remain on McLaren’s radar until the final checkered flag.