After a bad weekend in Baku for both McLaren drivers, and Max Verstappen appearing to go under the radar, should Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris be worried about Max pipping them for the title? – Martin

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was warning about Max Verstappen’s threat in the drivers’ championship even before the Dutchman won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

After the Red Bull driver took pole position in Baku, Stella was asked whether he considered Verstappen a factor in the championship.

“A firm ‘yes’,” he said.

“We don’t have to forget that, first of all, it’s Max Verstappen. World champion for the last four years, in a fast car.

“There are races where McLaren may not enjoy any advantage from a competitiveness point of view. And also Lando and Oscar, they are always there, so they will not necessarily be maximising the points available.

“Sometimes there will be a little bit more points for Lando, a little bit more points for Oscar, so they may take some points away from each other.

“We are very aware of this aspect, but we let them race, because they both deserve to pursue their aspirations. Therefore, yes, Verstappen and Red Bull are in contention for the drivers’ championship.”

Inevitably, Stella reiterated his view after the race, when Verstappen’s victory reduced his deficit to Piastri to 69 points.

But it’s one thing being a naturally cautious F1 team principal who has to maximise his team’s performance every weekend, and ensure they don’t take their eye off the ball. It’s another being an objective observer.

Realistically, the chances of Verstappen beating one of the McLaren drivers to the title are slim.

The gap is the equivalent of nearly three clear victories with only seven grands prix to go. To put it another way, Verstappen would have to close on Piastri at an average of just under 10 points a race to beat the Australian.

Possible, but not very probable. Even with the sprints in Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar added into the equation.

McLaren are coming off two races on tracks that did not play to the strengths of their car. There is at least one more of those – Las Vegas – but several more where they should be strong again.

If Piastri and Norris deliver their best, or close to it, over the remainder of the season, they should easily be able to fend off Verstappen, even allowing for the fact that it appears Red Bull have made a step forward with their car.

If they keep delivering races like they both did in Baku, however, then, yes, of course they should be worried.