McLaren provide driver priority update as Max Verstappen threat intensifies

McLaren team principal insists the team is a "long way" from prioritising either Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris in the F1 drivers' championship fight, despite Max Verstappen increasingly becoming a factor in the title hunt.

The recently-crowned constructors' champions looked to have a stranglehold on the drivers' battle too, but the Dutchman has dragged himself back into contention over recent rounds following significant improvements at Red Bull and to his RB21.

Sitting just 55 points behind Piastri in the standings, Verstappen starts the United States Grand Prix from pole position.

Norris, who is 22 points back from the Australian, is alongside in second, but his team-mate could only go sixth-fastest in qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas.

The papaya pair collided at the start of the sprint in Austin, which Verstappen won, sending both into retirement.

Contact between its drivers for a second round in succession has heaped pressure on McLaren, which has been further exacerbated by a drivers' championship fight that is becoming perilously close.

However, despite Verstappen's renewed title charge, Stella is adamant the Woking-based squad is nowhere near changing its equal treatment philosophy.

Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, the Italian said: "We review our approach constantly, but we are a long way from being in condition to say that we are going to prioritise one driver over the other, especially as long as the chances are realistic for both drivers.

"This is the way we intend to go racing. This is the way in which we approach racing, and we want to remain fair and we want to apply equality to both drivers.

"So, this is the situation at the moment. There's so many points. There's actually so many points yet to go, that Verstappen is definitely in the quest."

Stella highlighted, like he did in Baku, that Verstappen is still in contention — in bold and capital letters.

The 54-year-old also maintained that McLaren wants to allow Piastri and Norris to "pursue their aspirations" until it becomes an untenable stance to uphold.

He added: "So I think the most important thing is that we make sure that the world champion will be a driver in a papaya car, okay.

"But who is going to be the one? Certainly, the team wants both Oscar and Lando to be able to pursue their aspirations, as long as it is reasonable to do so, and as long as it's reasonable not having to commit to one driver."