McLaren urged to fix 'fragile' issue in face of Red Bull threat

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has stated Red Bull will capitalise on McLaren's slow pit stops if it is unable to overcome its recent run of errors.

The last three grands prix have seen McLaren conduct three slow pit stops, including at the Italian Grand Prix, which resulted in a controversial swap of positions between the two title protagonists.

Lando Norris has suffered two slow pit stops in that time, while last time out in Singapore, it was team-mate Oscar Piastri's turn to be held long in his pit box.

While the slow stops threaten to have major repercussions on the title battle, Herbert also suggested it could bring Max Verstappen into play.

“The first thing McLaren has got to do is to stop making the pit stop mistakes that they're doing at the moment,” Herbert told BettingLounge.

“You remember a couple of years ago, it was world record stops, but for whatever reason, the pit stops have gone a little bit awry when they were the best. 

“They're a little bit fragile, I suppose, just because we are clearly seeing those mistakes happen. 

“And Red Bull are going to try and capitalise on that. So, when it's a very difficult situation of the undercut, for example, coming into play maybe down the line, it's forcing that pressure onto McLaren and this is where the team harmony is probably favouring Max and Red Bull because of the relationship that he's got with his team.”

Herbert issues McLaren advice over title battle

Piastri currently holds a 22-point lead over Norris in the drivers' standings, while Verstappen is 66 points adrift.

However, McLaren has seemingly slipped back in the pecking order at recent rounds and is winless at the last three events.

As well as managing its pit stop woes, McLaren is also facing a headache when it comes to dealing with a potential fallout between its drivers battling for the title.

Herbert stated the best course of action is to allow them to race and not micromanage the pair.

“On top of that, they've got to manage their drivers,” Herbert added.

“It's different pressure that comes into play. Some factors they have created for themselves with the Papaya rules.

“So, to release pressure, let the drivers get on with it. I've never wanted a team to dictate the outcome of the championship. That's what you've got to leave to the drivers. They're not just coming out of the karting of F3. 

“They are the cream of racing drivers. They have a skill that even I don't fully understand how they do what they do in these incredibly fast cars that have in the modern age. 

“One easy way of releasing pressure is let them race and one of them will achieve that championship.”