McLaren: How does he manage Norris and Piastri in the final stretch of the championship?

The Tension Between Teammates: McLaren and the Delicate Dance of Team Orders

Formula 1, known for its unpredictability, often intensifies the excitement with a unique element: the competition between teammates for the drivers’ title. This situation, where two drivers from the same team fight for supremacy, creates a complex dynamic. On the one hand, they work for the same team, representing hundreds of employees; on the other, they pursue their individual dreams, sometimes at the expense of each other. In McLaren, this paradox is especially familiar. With Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as the only contenders for this year’s championship, the team has worked hard to establish a level playing field. Last Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix showed how difficult it is to maintain balance between both drivers, but the decision to swap positions between Piastri and Norris is the result of more than a year of crucial decisions and potential points of conflict.

Both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, have been competing neck and neck in this year’s World Championship.

The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix: A Key Precedent

A little over a year ago, McLaren was still adjusting to having a winning car. At the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris only had one victory and Piastri had yet to stand on the top step of the podium. The race at the Hungaroring presented the perfect opportunity for the team to get their second win, but the question of which driver deserved to win became a thorny issue. Norris, who started from pole position, was overtaken by Piastri at the first corner and settled for second place. To protect against an undercut from Lewis Hamilton, McLaren ordered Norris to pit first, giving him an advantage of fresh tires over Piastri. The team made it clear that they wanted to reverse the positions once both cars were far from the rest, but Norris was reluctant.

“I know you will do the right thing,” race engineer Will Joseph told Norris.

Will Joseph

With six laps remaining and no indication of Norris yielding, Joseph added: “Lando, he can’t catch you. You’ve proven your worth. The way to win a championship isn’t by yourself. You’ll need Oscar and the team”. Finally, Norris complied with the order with two laps remaining, securing Piastri’s first victory and the double for McLaren. Precedent established: the example of Hungary had clear parallels with the Monza race.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s McLarens finished on the podium, with the Australian winning his first F1 race.

The 2024 Italian Grand Prix: A New Dynamic

Red Bull’s fight during the second half of the 2024 season opened the possibility of Norris competing for the title. McLaren, until the Italian Grand Prix, had recognized this possibility, but had not backed Norris over Piastri in race situations. This changed after Monza. Norris, after a dominant victory in Zandvoort, achieved the pole position in Monza. Although he defended Piastri’s attack at the first chicane, the Australian cleanly overtook Norris to take the lead. Norris, in an attempt to avoid a collision, lost a position to Charles Leclerc, falling from first to third place in a few corners. Leclerc won the race, while Piastri finished second ahead of Norris.

Even though neither of them won, both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris achieved the pole in Monza.Precedent established: After Monza, McLaren agreed to support Norris’s campaign, especially in 50/50 situations. Piastri would not be obliged to concede victories to Norris, but could be asked to move aside in lower positions. In addition, moves that would cause the team to lose positions would be avoided. Piastri accepted these new terms pragmatically.

“It’s a lot to ask,” Piastri said at the time. “But obviously I’ve been given a great opportunity in F1 and at the front of the grid. It’s something that won’t be forgotten, I suppose, in the future.”

Oscar Piastri

The relative harmony in the team is partly related to Piastri’s willingness to help Norris at the end of the 2024 season.

2024 Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint: Support for Norris

The only time McLaren’s decision to favor Norris had a direct impact on a result was in the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Piastri achieved pole and led Norris for the first 22 laps, until McLaren asked him to move aside and let his teammate pass with two laps remaining.

Piastri’s immediate compliance was key, as a virtual safety car (VSC) threatened to prevent the exchange. Norris, uncomfortable with securing the victory through team orders, thanked Piastri after the race.

“Yes, I’m not proud of it,” he said. “But we work well as a team. So I thank Oscar, but we have done a great job as a team. Today was the result we wanted. Oscar deserved it, but we are doing what we have to do, so I thank him and the team.”

Lando Norris

Precedent established: Because McLaren had spoken about their support for Norris’s candidacy, the victory in the sprint race lacked controversy. Although the exchange could have happened earlier, Norris and Piastri were aligned.

Qatar Grand Prix Sprint 2024: The Favor is Returned

In the first sprint race after Brazil, Norris saw the opportunity to return the favor to his teammate and moved aside, conceding the victory to Piastri. This incident was a rare occasion in which a McLaren driver disobeyed a team order. Precedent established: The change initiated by the driver underscored fair play between Norris and Piastri, even if it went against the team’s wishes in the final laps. Piastri’s victory rewarded his compliance in Brazil.

2025 Australian Grand Prix: Early Intervention

In the inaugural race of the 2025 season, McLaren demonstrated their dominance, with Norris and Piastri opening a 16-second gap over Verstappen. However, the team ordered Piastri not to attack Norris while they were passing traffic. Although the incident was a footnote, it was the first time McLaren tried to control the battle between their two drivers.

Lando Norris triumphed in the chaotic 2025 Australian Grand Prix.Precedent established: McLaren justified team orders due to track conditions. This made it clear how cautious McLaren was regarding racing between its drivers, and that, under certain conditions, intervention would not be ruled out.

2025 Canadian Grand Prix: Maturity in Adversity

The collision between Norris and Piastri in Montreal was an example of how the drivers handled a point of conflict. The nature of the accident, in which Norris crashed into the rear of Piastri, facilitated the situation, as Norris was at fault. The British driver apologized immediately, and the tension eased, in part, due to the extension of 12 points in the championship for Piastri. Precedent established: Norris took the blame, which helped reduce internal pressure. The outcome had no impact on the relationship between the pilots.

Austrian Grand Prix 2025: Clean Races and Lessons Learned

In Austria, a clean race was evident between the two McLaren drivers. Piastri received a warning for an overtaking attempt. Norris won the race, and Piastri apologized, demonstrating the standard of fair racing between the drivers.

“I am proud of Oscar, because as soon as he crossed the finish line, he said: ‘I am sorry about the situation at turn four. It was my fault. I know what I have to do’”, said Stella.

Andrea Stella

Precedent established: McLaren saw Piastri’s situation and apology as proof of fair racing standards. It was an opportunity to point out a lesson learned after Canada.

2025 British Grand Prix: Piastri’s Failed Petition

In Silverstone, Piastri seemed set to win until he received a penalty. Piastri, feeling aggrieved, requested the team to reverse the positions. McLaren rejected the request, resulting in a significant victory for Norris.

Lando Norris achieved a bittersweet victory at Silverstone.Precedent established: Piastri seemed to know the answer. The penalty was a result of his mistake, and McLaren made it clear that they would not intervene to overturn the stewards’ decisions.

2025 Hungarian Grand Prix: Strategy and Freedom

A year after the team orders debacle in Budapest, McLaren allowed Norris to opt for an alternative strategy, which allowed him to win ahead of Piastri. This underlines the policy of racing freedom between teammates.

“As McLaren Racing, we want to deliver great racing to Formula 1”, said Stella.

Andrea Stella

Precedent established: McLaren allows its drivers to fight for positions and balance strategies to favor one over the other.

Italian Grand Prix 2025: The Recent Controversy

The most recent application of team orders by McLaren is perhaps the most controversial. With Verstappen leading, the team extended the stints of Norris and Piastri to benefit from a possible safety car. This led Piastri to suggest that McLaren should favor Piastri. After a problem in Norris’s pit stop, Piastri was asked to give back the position, reducing his advantage in the championship.

Is the only title opportunity for Lando Norris a disaster for Oscar Piastri?Precedent established: McLaren justified the decision as consistent with Hungary 2024, arguing that the priority was the team’s interest, not Norris’s slow pit stop.

“We will also review the situation in which a slow pit stop occurs in isolation. We already have our principles in this regard. We will review our principles in this regard and reinforce the direction if this is in agreement with our drivers,” said Stella.

Andrea Stella

The challenge for McLaren is now to make future decisions in line with the established precedents. The team intends to address the issues openly with the drivers to avoid unpleasant surprises.