Andrea Stella knows Max Verstappen will punish McLaren’s drivers if one thing happens at the Sao Paulo GP

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Next up on the hectic Formula 1 calendar is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and Andrea Stella knows better than any other team principal how lethal Max Verstappen can be at the Brazilian circuit.

The race weekend in Sao Paulo marks the first of the final four races of the season, and we’re looking at a three-horse race as the 2025 F1 title fight gets ever closer to reaching a boiling point.

After what was once a duel between McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Verstappen has emerged as a candidate for a fifth consecutive world title after hitting a purple patch of form at the perfect time.

Despite the Woking-based outfit having a driver at the top of the F1 standings for the entirety of the current campaign, many within the F1 paddock believe Verstappen is the favourite to reign victorious once the chequered flag falls in Abu Dhabi.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen admits where he wasn’t at ‘Lando’s level’ as Norris won the Mexican Grand Prix

Andrea Stella is aware of the dangers Max Verstappen poses if rain falls at the Sao Paulo GP

However, for Verstappen to accomplish the feat of winning five back-to-back titles, which has only been previously done by Michael Schumacher, he will need to be perfect in the remaining four race weekends.

And where better to go next than the site of some of the best drives of his F1 career?

Speaking on her own YouTube channel, F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli has highlighted how McLaren team principal Andrea Stella is very aware of the dangers that the Dutchman poses to their title party, especially when it comes to the tarmac of the Interlagos Circuit.

On the topic of McLaren finally reclaiming the top spot of the podium at the Mexico City Grand Prix, she said, “Red Bull left without an answer, wanting to study the data so that this does not repeat in the following races.

“And McLaren breathed a little because they expected that their lead would suffer, suffer a little more on this Mexico City track for them then to recover in Brazil, in Qatar, and in Abu Dhabi also.

“So they go to Brazil calmer, but hoping it doesn’t rain. I know that Andrea Stella is hoping a lot that it doesn’t rain, because he knows that the combination Red Bull, Verstappen, Interlagos, and rain, he knows what can happen.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen was denied a ‘huge’ opportunity in the F1 title fight at the Mexican Grand Prix

Two of Max Verstappen’s greatest drives of his F1 career have occurred at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

After a very impressive debut year with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2015, Verstappen emerged as a genuine contender for race wins once he was called up to the front-running Red Bull team midway through the 2016 season.

After winning his maiden Grand Prix in Spain, the most dazzling performance came at the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he stunned the whole world at just 19 years of age with his ability to dance an F1 car through the extreme weather conditions that fell that day.

Verstappen’s performance left Martin Brundle in awe as he claimed his seventh podium in F1 with a third-place finish. The highlight of the day was leaving Nico Rosberg in a shower of spray as he courageously sent it around the outside of turn three.

The most recent edition of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix is another one of the Dutchman’s greatest days in an F1 car, one that Norris will have in the back of his mind at the upcoming race weekend.

Heading into the weekend without a win in 10 races and the threat of the McLaren driver toppling him in the standings, Verstappen put on another wet-weather masterclass to take his eighth win of the season, and shift the momentum back into his favour.

Starting from 17th on the grid after qualifying 12th and using extra power unit components outside of the allotted amount, the win for Verstappen was seen as a ‘slap in the face’ for Norris, whose maiden title hopes came crumbling down afterwards.

The Brit will be hoping for calmer weather once the circus arrives in Brazil in less than a fortnight’s time.