Analysis: Could McLaren Have Beaten Verstappen at Japanese GP?

Max Verstappen’s victory at the Japanese GP raises the question — did McLaren miss their chance to defeat the Red Bull driver.

McLaren team — holding a pace advantage of several tenths — faced a strategic dilemma at Suzuka Circuit. Despite having two talented drivers up front, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to convert their performance advantage into victory.

McLaren had two opportunities to be more aggressive:

• Attempting an overcut strategy similar to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s successful execution
• Swapping their drivers’ positions to give Piastri a chance to attack Verstappen

Suzuka’s track characteristics — making overtaking difficult without a 0.7-0.8 second per lap advantage — proved crucial. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized that Saturday’s qualifying largely determined the race outcome.

McLaren’s philosophy of equal driver treatment also influenced strategic decision-making—the team opted to secure a double podium finish rather than risk their constructors’ championship points.