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Andrea Stella insists Piastri and Norris can still outpace Verstappen as the 2025 season reaches its climax
By Isabella Harper | Staff Writer with Agencies | October 2025
Momentum Shifts, but Hope Remains
After four consecutive defeats to Max Verstappen and Red Bull, optimism might seem hard to find at McLaren. Yet team principal Andrea Stella remains upbeat. For him, the remaining five races of the 2025 Formula 1 season are not a damage-limitation exercise but a chance to strike back.
McLaren’s leading driver, Oscar Piastri, still holds a 40-point lead in the championship, though recent weekends in Baku and Austin have tested his resilience. Verstappen, chasing a fifth straight world title, has rediscovered his rhythm in the upgraded RB21, while Lando Norris continues to fight on the edge of podium contention.
But Stella sees opportunity rather than crisis.
“The fact that there are five races and two sprints means we can increase the gap to Max,” he said. “That’s how I see things. I think we have good tracks coming for our car.”
A Season on the Edge
Red Bull’s resurgence has been undeniable. Verstappen’s recent run — four straight wins, including a second place in Singapore ahead of both McLarens — has revived talk of an improbable comeback.
McLaren, however, believes the championship remains in their hands. The papaya-orange squad still expects to perform strongly at Qatar, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi — circuits that could better suit the MCL39’s aerodynamic efficiency.
“We have a large opportunity,” Stella emphasized. “The outcome of this season and the drivers’ championship is in our hands, not in someone else’s.”
Then he added with conviction,
“That’s the mindset that we want to have, and that’s the mindset that we will have.”
Learning from Missed Chances
Behind Stella’s optimism lies a dose of self-criticism. McLaren knows it hasn’t maximized its potential in recent rounds.
In Austin, both drivers were eliminated early in the sprint race, losing valuable setup data on plank wear and being forced into conservative choices for Sunday’s grand prix. Baku was another low point, with Piastri crashing in both qualifying and the race, while Norris failed to extract the car’s full pace.
“We have more that we could have exploited out of our car,” Stella admitted. “And to some extent, the drivers recognise that they could have done a better job.”
Even so, Stella’s message to his team is clear: attack, don’t defend.
The Road Ahead
The next rounds could define the championship.
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Qatar is expected to favour McLaren’s high-speed balance.
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Mexico and Brazil may lean toward Red Bull’s power-unit advantage.
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Las Vegas introduces unpredictable street-circuit dynamics.
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Abu Dhabi remains the ultimate decider.
Stella believes the MCL39 still has performance headroom — and that focus, not fear, will determine the outcome.
“It’s easy to become defensive when your rival finds form,” he said. “But our car has pace, and our drivers have belief. That’s what matters now.”
Piastri’s Poise, Norris’s Push
For Oscar Piastri, the challenge is psychological as much as mechanical. Leading a Formula 1 title race against Max Verstappen brings new pressure, but the young Australian has shown maturity beyond his years. Lando Norris, meanwhile, continues to provide consistent support, ensuring McLaren remains strong in the Constructors’ Championship.
Their partnership — competitive yet collaborative — could prove crucial in the season’s final act.
Final Lap
McLaren knows the numbers: five races, two sprints, forty points. The math leaves room for both triumph and heartbreak.
But in the words of Andrea Stella, the battle is far from over.
“We look at the next five races as opportunities to increase the gap on Max. We have good tracks coming, and the championship remains in our hands.”
“That’s the mindset that we want to have, and that’s the mindset that we will have.”
In a season defined by shifting momentum, that optimism might just make the difference.