Laurent Mekies: “Of course” McLaren feeling pressure in fight against Max Verstappen

The championship, which has seen dramatic shifts in momentum throughout the year, is poised for a decisive showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit this weekend. Lando Norris currently leads the drivers’ standings, holding a slender 12-point advantage over reigning three-time world champion Max Verstappen, and a 16-point lead over his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. While Norris remains the favourite for what would be his maiden Formula 1 title, the narrative has increasingly been dominated by Verstappen’s relentless late-season charge and the consistent, almost flawless, execution from his Red Bull Racing team.

Mekies, the Team Principal for the Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team (V-CARB) and a veteran of high-stakes F1 environments from his previous roles at Ferrari and Racing Bulls, offered his perspective on the intense pressure faced by McLaren’s young contenders. "It is inevitable that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are feeling the ‘psychological effect’ of a Formula 1 title battle against Max Verstappen," Mekies stated, highlighting the unique challenge of competing against a driver of Verstappen’s calibre.

Verstappen’s late-season surge has been nothing short of spectacular. Since Red Bull introduced significant car upgrades at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the Dutch driver has transformed his championship prospects. He has clinched victory in five of the eight races following the Monza upgrades, an astonishing run of form that has allowed him to claw back a colossal 104-point deficit in the drivers’ championship. This remarkable turnaround underscores not only the performance improvements of the Red Bull RB20 but also Verstappen’s unparalleled ability to extract maximum performance and capitalise on every opportunity.

Conversely, McLaren’s championship bid has been punctuated by a series of high-profile errors and misfortunes, which have inadvertently aided Verstappen’s recovery. These include Oscar Piastri’s costly crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, which saw him retire from a strong points-scoring position. Furthermore, the team faced a significant setback with a double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to technical infringements, wiping out crucial points. A strategic misstep during the Qatar Grand Prix also proved detrimental, costing them valuable positions and points.

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These incidents have not gone unnoticed, particularly by Verstappen himself, who recently asserted that he would have already secured the title if he had been driving McLaren’s competitive MCL38. He suggested that it was "only failings from the other side" that were keeping him in the championship fight. Lando Norris, quick to defend his team and his own performance, rebuffed Verstappen’s claims, describing them as "talking nonsense." However, Mekies largely aligned with Verstappen’s sentiment, acknowledging the psychological weight of facing such a consistent opponent.

"I’m sure there is an element when you are Max’s competitor, having been on the other side of it… there is an element where you know he just never gets it wrong," Mekies elaborated, drawing on his extensive experience in the paddock. His observation points to Verstappen’s near-perfect race craft and execution, a quality that instils immense pressure on rivals. "This puts some pressure on you. He never gets it wrong, he never misses a start, he never misses a Turn 1. He’s going to extract more out of the tyres than most people out there."

Mekies further credited Red Bull Racing’s own operational excellence, which has complemented Verstappen’s individual brilliance. He highlighted the team’s "extraordinary" and "massively strong executions" throughout the season, emphasizing that Red Bull has "never got a call wrong." This flawless strategic and operational performance, according to Mekies, includes "very courageous decisions more than once." While acknowledging that some risks might not have paid off, he underscored the team’s willingness to take them and the consistent strength of their Sunday race executions.

"They have made some very courageous decisions more than once. Sometimes we fell, but it never stopped any of them from taking the risk. Ultimately, the executions on Sunday have been extremely, extremely strong," Mekies affirmed. He believes that the synergy between Verstappen’s consistent performance and Red Bull’s impeccable team operations creates a formidable psychological barrier for competitors. "I think the combination of these two things is certainly playing in our favour. How much does it cost the competition? I don’t know, but it is natural that there is a psychological effect."

A critical factor contributing to this psychological dynamic is Verstappen’s extensive experience in championship battles. Having secured three consecutive world titles (2021, 2022, 2023), he possesses an unparalleled understanding of how to navigate high-pressure moments and maintain composure when the stakes are highest. In stark contrast, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are contending for their first-ever Formula 1 world championship, a career-defining moment that inevitably brings a unique set of pressures.

Looking ahead to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mekies revealed that Red Bull’s approach remains unchanged despite the championship permutations. The primary objective for Verstappen and the team is clear: secure victory at Yas Marina and hope that Norris finishes off the podium. This strategy simplifies their focus, allowing them to concentrate solely on their own performance.

"What we need to do in Abu Dhabi is what we needed to do here," Mekies stated following Verstappen’s 70th Grand Prix victory in Qatar. "We need to put the car in the right window. As you can see, it’s not exactly straightforward every race weekend and then if we do that, Max can fight for the win."

The intricacies of the championship mean that if Verstappen wins in Abu Dhabi, Norris would need to finish at least second to secure the title, assuming Verstappen also takes the fastest lap point. If Verstappen finishes second, Norris would need a third place or better. Should Verstappen finish third, Norris could afford to finish fourth, and so on. The role of Piastri, who is also mathematically in contention, adds another layer of complexity, as he could potentially act as a crucial strategic asset for McLaren, either by taking points away from Verstappen or by supporting Norris.

"If he does that, then what’s happening hopefully behind him is not something we can control. So really in terms of how we approach the weekend, it doesn’t change anything," Mekies concluded. "You go there, try to get our car in the sweet spot, try to give to Max a balance that he’s excelling with and hopefully that puts him in the fight for the top position – we won’t control what’s behind."

The Yas Marina Circuit, a challenging track known for its diverse layout and often strategic races, will serve as the ultimate proving ground for all three contenders. The pressure on McLaren’s young stars will be immense, as they aim to convert their season-long efforts into a maiden world title, while Verstappen seeks to demonstrate once more his psychological edge and championship pedigree. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to what has been an unforgettable Formula 1 season.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.