McLaren need a strategy relook with Max on rampage

Does Max Verstappen's late-season rampage mean that McLaren's hope of adding their first world championship for drivers since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title may now be destined to fail?

- David Tremayne

Red Bull's Max Verstappen hoisting the longhorn bull skull trophy after winning the United States GP in Austin, Texas on Oct 19. With five grands prix left, he is just 40 points behind Oscar Piastri (346) and 26 adrift of Lando Norris. PHOTO: AFP

(AFP)

Well, consider this: In the last five race weekends, he and the once-recalcitrant Red Bull RB21 have scored 119 points. Lando Norris' score in the once-omnipotent McLaren MCL39 is 57, Oscar Piastri's 62. With two grands prix with sprint races left (33 points maximum per driver in each) and three normal races (25 points ditto), there are 141 available, and Verstappen is only 40 behind Piastri (346) and 26 adrift of Norris.

Did the reigning champion ever envisage such a turnround in his fortunes after his home race in Zandvoort, when he was 104 points adrift of Piastri? If someone had suggested such a preposterous possibility, would he have believed them?

“No,” he laughed. “I would have told him he was an idiot. But, yeah, we found a good way with the car. It’s simple as that.