Wednesday\u2019s F1 news has arrived, with both Zak Brown and Andrea Stella having responded to the looming threat posed by Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n
The Red Bull driver has closed the gap in the standings, but it\u2019s the McLaren duo still in the box seat as we head into the final four races. Let\u2019s take a look at the day\u2019s headlines.<\/p>\n
F1 news: A 2007 repeat possible, but McLaren on \u2018offence, not defence\u2019<\/p>\n
Both Zak Brown and Andrea Stella said they would congratulate Max Verstappen if he is somehow able to overturn the 36-point deficit to Lando Norris, but their main priority remains with one of their drivers securing title glory.<\/p>\n
The prospect of a repeat of the 2007 season was put to the two top bosses at McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso pipped by Kimi Raikkonen at the last, but while that is possible, that remains preferable to the team compared to putting one of their drivers\u2019 needs above the other.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to make sure if we don\u2019t win, he beats us, we don\u2019t beat ourselves. That\u2019s important,\u201d Brown told the Beyond the Grid podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we\u2019re well aware of 2007, two drivers tie on points, one [Raikkonen] gets in the front. But, we\u2019ve got two drivers who want to win the world championship. We\u2019re playing offence, we\u2019re not playing defence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more: McLaren responds to \u2018if Max Verstappen is champion\u2019 question as title battle heats up<\/a><\/p>\n Lando Norris receives Raikkonen comparison in \u2018super strength\u2019 verdict<\/p>\n Jacques Villeneuve believes Lando Norris\u2019 ability to be \u201cvery vocal about his mistakes\u201d is something of a \u201csuper strength\u201d for the McLaren driver.<\/p>\n The 1997 World Champion also compared him to Kimi Raikkonen in that regard, that while the \u2018Iceman\u2019 was not quite as outwardly vocal as Norris, the same burning desire to succeed was within him.<\/p>\n Read more: Lando Norris \u2018super strength\u2019 highlighted in \u2018melting\u2019 Raikkonen comparison<\/a><\/p>\n Ecclestone dubs Hamilton to Ferrari \u2018financial marketing project\u2019<\/p>\n Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone gave a withering assessment of Lewis Hamilton\u2019s move to Ferrari, believing it in its current state to be a \u201cfinancial marketing project\u201d.<\/p>\n He also voiced his view that the Scuderia needs a dictatorial leader at the top of the team, as opinions from elsewhere can have an undue influence on the team from the outside.<\/p>\n Ecclestone added on Hamilton:\u00a0\u201cEverything is slipping away from him there. He wanted to become world champion there and is now surprised that he can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more: Bernie Ecclestone scolds \u2018financial marketing project\u2019 Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari<\/a><\/p>\n Perez: McLaren \u2018messing around\u2019 allowing Verstappen a chance<\/p>\n Sergio Perez said the \u201cmessing around\u201d at the front by McLaren has in part allowed his former teammate, Max Verstappen, to close the gap at the top.<\/p>\n With that, the soon-to-be Cadillac driver has said the Dutchman he has a \u201creal chance\u201d of turning around the title battle in his favour this season.<\/p>\n