McLaren Boss Stella Praises Verstappen While Setting Sights on 2025 Glory

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has commended Max Verstappen for clinching his fourth drivers’ championship, labeling him “the best driver” in Formula 1. Despite a fierce rivalry this season, Stella expressed admiration for Verstappen’s skill and Red Bull’s dominance, while setting his team an ambitious target of challenging for the drivers’ title in 2025.

Acknowledging Verstappen’s Brilliance

Verstappen secured the 2024 championship in Las Vegas, finishing ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and cementing his place among the sport’s greats. Stella didn’t hold back in praising the Dutchman: “Hats off to Verstappen, well done to Red Bull in supporting this incredible driver… The best driver won the championship.”

Stella highlighted Verstappen’s consistency and ability to dominate even in challenging conditions, adding that McLaren took pride in pushing the reigning champion this season.

McLaren’s 2024 Performance and 2025 Ambitions

While Verstappen claimed the drivers’ title, McLaren remains locked in a tight constructors’ battle, leading the standings with 608 points, 24 ahead of Ferrari. Reflecting on the season, Stella admitted early setbacks cost them in the drivers’ race but emphasized their progress: “We just lost a few too many points at the start… but then we were there with Verstappen’s pace.”

Stella sees this year’s campaign as a stepping stone, stating: “This is hopefully just the preparation work for a new challenge we want to open next season.”

However, McLaren’s ultimate goal is a drivers’ championship win by 2025, with Norris and Oscar Piastri spearheading their charge.

Las Vegas Challenges and Optimism for Season’s End

McLaren faced difficulties in Las Vegas, with tire graining hampering their performance. Despite this, Norris and Piastri managed to finish sixth and seventh, limiting the damage in the standings. Stella remains optimistic about the final two races: “We now go to two venues that should be more comfortable ground for our car.”

Acknowledging the competition from Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, Stella emphasized McLaren’s focus on sealing the constructors’ title: “We know the job is not finished… We go to the last two races fully focused.”