McLaren team principal Andrea Stella couldn’t have asked for a better end of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had an awful lot riding on it for both McLaren and Ferrari.
McLaren held a 21-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship and heading into the final race of the year, Andrea Stella’s team were in the perfect position.
Lando Norris had taken the ninth pole position of his Formula 1 career and teammate Oscar Piastri joined him on the front row.
The Brit drove the perfect race, so much so, that Nico Rosberg believes Norris is the favourite to win the 2025 championship after taking his fourth Grand Prix victory.
Unfortunately, Piastri’s chances of finishing on the podium were ended by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at the first corner.
Verstappen apologised to Piastri, but speaking on Sky Sports (8/12 11:57am) during the coverage of the final race of the season, Stella admitted that he can’t always trust what Verstappen and his team say.
Why McLaren boss Andrea Stella doesn’t trust Max Verstappen and Red Bull
Stella has done a phenomenal job leading McLaren from the back of the grid less than two years ago to winning the Constructors’ Championship.
A step forward in Miami where Norris won his maiden Grand Prix will be highlighted as the turning point in the season, but in reality, almost every update McLaren have delivered has improved the car.
Talking about his rivals for next year and beyond, Stella said: “We knew that Mercedes had already shown at times to be the fastest car.
READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
“Ferrari, they were struggling a little bit mid-season, but they were saying, our problem is porpoising, it’s not the underlying performance.
“So, we knew that they would bounce back.
“And the other one is Red Bull and Max Verstappen! I don’t think you can trust them when they say they’re not going to perform well because we know what kind of performance they can pull off.
“So, we were always realistic as we know what kind of competition we were facing.”
McLaren and Lando Norris happy to stay out of the way of Max Verstappen off the track
LIke many of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, Verstappen has made headlines on and off the track.
Norris and Verstappen have clashed on several occasions this season.
The Brit was forced to end his Austrian Grand Prix when the pair collided and Verstappen was stubborn in his defence in both Austin and Mexico City.
Verstappen was criticised in Mexico City for his driving style, but he’s very rarely taken any notice of what others say about his actions on the track.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Verstappen latest feud is with George Russell after he was given a grid penalty for blocking the Mercedes driver on a cooldown lap in qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix.
Martin Brundle wants Norris to be more like Russell in his battle with Verstappen but it’s hard to see that happening.
It’s not necessarily in his personality to be as aggressive and outspoken has Russell has been but he would have learned this season what he needs to do on the track to match Verstappen.
Stella is right though, Verstappen and Red Bull are both capable of producing performances neither party will publicly admit are possible.
Leave feedback about this