McLaren have gifted Max Verstappen a ‘powerful’ edge over Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri according to Karun Chandhok

McLaren have left Karun Chandhok feeling a ‘bit disappointed’ after gifting Red Bull and Max Verstappen a big advantage in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship battle.

Verstappen is bidding to become just the second driver in history after Michael Schumacher to win five F1 titles on the spin this season. He even now trails Lando Norris in the standings by one point after taking his first win of 2025 at the Japanese Grand Prix from pole position.

Norris dethroned Verstappen from his seat atop the F1 drivers’ standings for the first time in 1,029 days by winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix from pole. But the Briton is yet to add to his victory after teammate Oscar Piastri won the Chinese Grand Prix from pole.

McLaren’s Japanese Grand Prix strategy gifted Max Verstappen a ‘powerful’ boost in the drivers’ championship

McLaren entered the 2025 F1 season as the big favourites to achieve the team’s and drivers’ titles, with the MCL39 widely viewed as the best car on the grid. But Verstappen stunned to steal pole in Japan and Suzuka’s resurfaced first sector negated McLaren’s tyre wear edge.

Norris and Piastri would have to just spend the Japanese GP staring at Verstappen’s gearbox as the Red Bull racer romped to glory. So, Chandhok was ‘disappointed’ that McLaren opted against trying to undercut or overcut the four-time champion with one of their two drivers.

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Chandhok even thinks McLaren’s passive approach to their strategy at the Japanese GP also gave Verstappen a psychological boost for his title fight with Piastri and Norris. The 27-year-old and Red Bull now know that McLaren will not risk upsetting their drivers to chase a win.

“I came away from that race a little bit disappointed that McLaren didn’t do something more aggressive strategically,” Chandhok said on Sky Sports F1 (11/04, 12:40).

“Just go really bold, think really big and bold because psychologically, for Max to win that race was powerful for Max and the Red Bull team in the world championship battle.”

Strategy was Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s best chance to beat Max Verstappen at Suzuka

Trying to undercut or overcut Verstappen for the lead of the Japanese GP during the pit stop phase was likely McLaren’s main chance to win with either of Norris or Piastri at Suzuka. The resurfaced track surface meant neither McLaren pilot could use their car’s major advantage.

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Yet after they called Piastri in first from third place, McLaren simply copied Red Bull as Norris followed Verstappen into the pits. A quicker stop gifted the Briton a chance to claim the lead as they departed, but Norris drove onto the grass following Verstappen out of Suzuka’s pits.

It proved to be the only real chance the 25-year-old had throughout the race to overtake the 27-year-old. Now, Verstappen sits just one point behind Norris in the standings and also with a 12-point margin over Piastri in third after the Melbourne native’s spin from P2 in Australia.