McLaren may soon have to navigate stormy waters as Oscar Piastri made unexpected rise to the top of the F1 standings puts pressure on team unity with Lando Norris.
The Australian’s consistent form has vaulted him ahead of teammate Norris in the 2025 championship battle, placing McLaren in the awkward position of potentially needing to enforce team orders.
Piastri heads into the 2025 Miami Grand Prix with a 10-point advantage over Norris, having erased a 23-point deficit earlier in the season. His triumph in Saudi Arabia was a defining moment — not only for his personal campaign, but for the balance of power within McLaren.
“I can’t exclude that this may happen,” said McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella, when asked whether team orders between Norris and Piastri could be used.
“There are advantages to having two extremely competitive drivers… but there could be episodically some situations which may leave one of the two drivers a little upset.”
This is not unfamiliar territory for McLaren. During the 2024 Hungarian GP, Norris was instructed to let Piastri pass after the undercut placed the Aussie in the lead. The Briton complied, but the decision sparked speculation about team hierarchy.
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McLaren ready to make tough decisions
As McLaren chase another Constructors’ Championship, team decisions may not always serve both drivers equally — especially with both now emerging as title contenders.
“Internally, we don’t talk about ‘if’ — we talk about ‘when’,” Stella added. “We are aware as a team – and Lando and Oscar are aware as well.”
Piastri’s measured approach has won plaudits, with his maturity under pressure contrasting Norris’ emotional post-race reactions. His steady climb this year suggests he’s no longer content to play second fiddle.
Meanwhile, Norris returns to Miami — the scene of his maiden F1 victory in 2024 — looking to reverse the momentum. But any misstep could further tilt the internal balance, especially if McLaren opt to back Piastri in future strategy calls.
For now, both drivers remain publicly committed to the team-first mentality. But with the championship fight intensifying and every point counting, the reality of Formula 1 politics may soon come into play.
