McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has delivered a resounding verdict on Max Verstappen's drivers' championship chances after watching the four-time F1 champion clinch back-to-back pole positions.
Just a fortnight after stunning McLaren and its drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, and then going on to claim victory at Monza, Verstappen followed up by securing his first pole for the race in Azerbaijan.
Verstappen managed to stay out of trouble on an extraordinary day when there were six red flags, the last of which saw Piastri end up in a wall and out of Q3, allowing the Red Bull driver to take full advantage, where Norris could not.
The Briton will start seventh, just two places ahead of Piastri, after errors on his final run in Q3, and despite knowing the Australian was out of the picture.
Verstappen goes into the race 94 points adrift of championship leader Piastri, and 63 behind Norris. Even though there are 224 points still available from the eight remaining races and three sprints, it seems inconceivable that Verstappen can challenge.
Stella, however, is refusing to rule out the Dutchman.
Asked whether he felt Verstappen was still a factor in the drivers' championship, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, Stella replied: "A firm yes. Can you write it in capital [letters]? It was quoted in capital."
Despite the seemingly unbridgeable gap, Stella added: "Of course. We don't have to forget that, first of all, he is Max Verstappen, world champion for the last four years in a fast car.
"There are races where McLaren may not enjoy an 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 it will be a little bit more points for Lando, [sometimes] 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."
Also interesting:
WATCH: Verstappen phenomenal as DSQ adds to red-flag record smashed
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes and Nick Golding, as they discuss one of the most incredible qualifying sessions of the year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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