In the dynamic world of Formula 1, where a week can feel like an eternity in politics, 24 hours can dramatically alter the landscape of a championship battle.
Following qualifying at the recent Baku Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella made a particularly bold statement to the assembled media. His remarks, initially perceived by some as perhaps uncharacteristically exaggerated, underscored a deep conviction.
“Pole position in Monza, victory, pole position here,” Stella declared, referring to Max Verstappen`s recent performances. “Red Bull are a very serious contender to win races and a very serious contender for the Drivers` Championship.”
When pressed further on whether Verstappen was truly still a title threat, Stella`s response was unequivocal:
“A firm YES. Can you write it in capitals? Because it was quoted in capitals.”
Indeed, Verstappen had recently demonstrated his formidable prowess, securing a victory in Italy two weeks prior, triumphing over both of McLaren`s young championship aspirants. He then followed this up with another pole position in Baku. This came after a challenging qualifying session for McLaren, during which championship leader Oscar Piastri suffered a crash, and teammate Lando Norris had a subdued performance, leading to the McLaren drivers starting ninth and seventh on the grid, respectively.
While Verstappen was the clear favorite to win from pole on the shuffled grid, there was still a strong expectation that the McLaren pair would effectively climb through the field, likely securing podium finishes. Such a recovery would have significantly mitigated Verstappen`s efforts to reduce his substantial 94-point deficit to Piastri in the championship standings before the race.
However, the actual race results unfolded quite differently than these predictions.
