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Verstappen Cuts Gap to 40 as McLaren Freezes Upgrades for Final Five Rounds

McLaren insists the title remains in its hands, ruling out team orders unless the mathematics require them.

Overview

  • Red Bull’s RB21 has rebounded with multiple recent wins, including Verstappen’s dominant Austin weekend, turning the championship into a live contest.
  • Andrea Stella confirmed McLaren will bring no further updates this season, expressing confidence their existing package can win on upcoming tracks.
  • Stella said neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri will be favored unless one is mathematically out of contention for the drivers’ crown.
  • Five grands prix and two sprints remain, leaving a maximum of 141 points available as Verstappen trails leader Oscar Piastri by 40 points.
  • McLaren’s recent setbacks include Piastri’s crashes in Baku and both cars eliminated in the Austin sprint, which limited long‑run data and complicated setup work.