F1 drama unfolds as McLaren challenges Red Bull’s ‘miracle narrative’.
- Max Verstappen’s latest pole wasn’t a ‘miracle’, says McLaren’s Andrea Stella.
- On track, McLaren leads in Grand Prix wins, but Red Bull excels at narrative spin.
- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri consistently push McLaren’s competitive edge.
- Despite pole positions, McLaren questions what defines the ‘best’ car.
In the electrifying world of Formula 1, narratives often drive as much drama as the races themselves. This was evident when McLaren’s Andrea Stella called attention to Red Bull’s portrayal of Max Verstappen’s pole position at the Miami Grand Prix as a ‘miracle.’ According to Stella, this narrative cleverly crafted by Red Bull seeks to highlight extraordinary feats when, in fact, there’s more to the story.
Max Verstappen clinched his third pole of the 2025 season at the Miami Autodrome. After overcoming a penalty in the Sprint, his 1:26.204 lap narrowly edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.065 seconds. But Stella points beyond those numbers, suggesting that Red Bull’s success in creating compelling stories helps maintain their competitive image even when statistics don’t always favor them.
McLaren, boasting more Grand Prix victories this season, finds their drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri frequently at the forefront. They’ve been quick on the straights, yet Stella insists that Red Bull’s prowess lies not just in fast cars but in tailoring a narrative that keeps them in the spotlight. “They are extremely good at creating the narrative to their advantage,” Stella remarked during a media briefing.
The conversation around which team has the ‘best’ car delves into nuances beyond simple speed. Stella emphasized that MCL39’s potential, while significant, is challenging to extract consistently. The drivers, though talented, encounter difficulties gauging performance repetitively, an issue echoed by Oscar Piastri’s own acknowledgment of the unpredictability in certain track sections.
Reflecting on the team’s dynamics, Stella takes pride in McLaren’s consistent performance and highlights the drivers’ unwavering reliability. Despite not always having the fastest car, Norris and Piastri’s synergy and skill set them apart as a formidable force this season, keeping them ahead in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
As the F1 narrative unfolds, McLaren continues to focus on their strengths and the facts, ignoring external narratives.
