McLaren has made it clear that it won’t shy away from letting Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fight for the 2025 Formula 1 title, even if it means taking risks. The team has been giving its drivers the freedom to pursue their preferred race strategies, as seen in Hungary when Norris’ one-stop gamble paid off, just a week after his alternative approach in Spa fell short. The focus is on winning races rather than orchestrating safe 1-2 finishes, an approach reminiscent of the team’s 2007 internal rivalry that cost them the championship to Kimi Raikkonen. CEO Zak Brown acknowledges the dangers but insists both drivers will have equal chances to chase the crown.
For McLaren, this is not just a gesture to entertain fans or boost public image — it’s also a long-term strategy to keep both drivers fully engaged and motivated. By treating Norris and Piastri as equal contenders, the team avoids creating dissatisfaction or favoritism within the garage. Brown believes the rewards of this approach outweigh the potential downsides, even though incidents are bound to happen. Team principal Andrea Stella supports the open competition, noting it allows the drivers to fully display their abilities and continue growing, something the team feels privileged to witness.
This philosophy only works with the right pairing of drivers, and McLaren feels they’ve struck gold with Norris and Piastri. While their partnership has had tense moments — such as position-swapping disagreements in Hungary last year and a bold overtake from Piastri at Monza — they have generally respected the team dynamic. Apart from Norris’ collision in Canada, they have avoided destructive clashes, strengthening Brown’s belief that the current driver line-up can be trusted to keep the fight fair, unlike the fractious 2007 season.
Brown is quick to highlight that having two drivers battling for the title naturally generates excitement for the team and the fans. He stands firm in his belief that McLaren has the strongest driver pairing in Formula 1 and sees no reason to intervene unless absolutely necessary. The minimal intra-team incidents so far are commendable, but with 10 races remaining and just nine points separating the pair, the most intense phase of the championship fight is still to come.
Looking ahead, McLaren knows the possibility of on-track contact will rise as the stakes get higher, but Brown remains optimistic. Norris’ accountability after the Montreal crash has reassured him that both drivers can handle the pressure without derailing the team’s campaign. For McLaren, the real challenge is ensuring that this open competition continues to fuel success rather than fracture the unity they’ve worked so hard to build.
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