P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has rejected Max Verstappen ‘enemy’ status after defeat at the Japanese Grand Prix.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella emphasized that his team is well aware of Max Verstappen’s ‘enemy’ status, claiming they do not require reminders following the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite McLaren’s strong showing in practice sessions, Verstappen claimed pole position by a mere 0.012s from Lando Norris, eventually converting it into a victory with Oscar Piastri finishing third. Verstappen’s ability to make up for Red Bull’s deficiencies has made him a consistent threat, such as finishing less than a second behind Norris in the season-opener in Australia, trailing Briton in the drivers’ standings by only one point. Stella dismissed the notion that the Suzuka result served as a reminder of external threats, stating that discussions on competitors occur regularly throughout race weekends. He reiterated McLaren’s goal to outrank other teams, ensuring a strong position for both drivers to pursue their goals, with the need for continuous collaboration and improvement acknowledged. The team acknowledged that despite internal progress, significant effort is required to overcome competitors like George Russell from Mercedes in upcoming races.
