Andrea Stella (McLaren) on Max Verstappen: “Why should I be surprised?”

In 2025, McLaren ace Lando Norris secured pole position at the Red Bull Ring and went on to win the race; by the end of the season, the Englishman had been crowned World Champion.

In 2026, the picture looks different after the Austrian Grand Prix: McLaren are only third in the Constructors’ Championship, already 143 points behind leaders Mercedes, and now Red Bull Racing are also getting stronger. The Papaya team must be careful not to slip back to fourth place.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella: “I’m not surprised that Red Bull Racing is now in the mix and fighting for victory with Max Verstappen. This year, the pattern of competitiveness seems to be fairly consistent. If there’s a change in this pattern, it’s because the cars are receiving upgrades. When you look at the extent of the development Red Bull Racing has brought to the car in Austria, it’s no surprise that they’ve gained a few tenths of a second.”

“We know from our side that we’re probably three or four tenths of a second off the pace, and we see that in qualifying and in the race, and we’re seeing pretty much the same pattern on various circuits. We know exactly what we need to do at the moment, and that’s what we’re doing.”

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