McLaren dealt dominance alert as Max Verstappen threat remains

Yesterday at 10:35

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has informed McLaren that it must be "perfect" to be dominant, due to the consistent threat of Max Verstappen.  McLaren has the best package on the grid this season and currently sits comfortably at the top of the constructors' title.  Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are also first and second in the F1 drivers' title fight, following a superior performance in the Miami Grand Prix.  The Woking-based outfit secured a one-two, whilst George Russell in third was a staggering 37.6s adrift. In race trim, McLaren has only been beaten once this season, by Verstappen in Japan. Its tyre management has been unstoppable; however, it has been beatable over one lap. "We all know that McLaren's the best car at the moment," Steiner told the Red Flags podcast. "In the sprint race, yeah, they won it, but it was not so dominant.  "In the race, over distance, [they have] the better tyre management. What are the takeaways? They are the strongest team out there. But they still in qualifying, they didn't get it on pole.  "There's still work to do for them as well. So I wouldn't say that they are as dominant as some other teams were in the last years. They still need to get everything perfect to be dominant." Verstappen has secured pole position in 50% of the grands prix this year, with McLaren being very beatable in qualifying.  However, even the four-time world champion has not been able to consistently fight the papaya duo in race pace.  "I think, first of all, you've got super Max in a qualifying lap," added Steiner. "It's the guy as well. He can pull it off the one lap, because the car gives him one lap. But it's just the tyres.  "They degrade quicker than the other teams. But in one lap, they can get it done."