McLaren: Strategy and Tension between Norris and Piastri in F1

McLaren and the Delicate Dance of Team Orders: An In-Depth Analysis

Formula 1, known for its unpredictability, presents a unique challenge: the rivalry between teammates battling for the drivers’ title. This paradoxical situation, where collaboration and competition intertwine, is familiar territory for McLaren. Since the team returned to the path of triumph at the Miami Grand Prix last year, it has strived to ensure a level playing field for its drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, in the fight for the championship. This year’s Italian Grand Prix demonstrated the difficulty of maintaining balance between both drivers. Below, we analyze how McLaren arrived at this situation and the precedents established for the eight races that will decide the 2025 season.

2024 Hungarian Grand Prix: Setting the First Precedent

In the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren was in a phase of adapting to its winning car. Norris only had one victory to his name, while Piastri had yet to climb to the top of the podium. The Hungarian race presented itself as the perfect opportunity to achieve a second victory, but the question of which of the drivers deserved the triumph became a thorny issue. Norris, after starting from pole position, was overtaken by Piastri at the first corner and had to settle for second position. The situation remained the same, but the possible victory for McLaren was threatened by Lewis Hamilton, who was in third position. To protect against a Hamilton “undercut”, the team ordered Norris to pit first, giving him an advantage of fresh tires over Piastri. McLaren made it clear to Norris that they wanted them to swap positions once they were clear of the rest of the competitors, but the British driver was initially reluctant to comply.

• McLaren walking the “fairness” tightrope with Norris and Piastri
• Oscar Piastri: McLaren’s team order to swap positions with Lando Norris was “fair”
• 2025 Italian Grand Prix recap: F1 results and highlights, with Verstappen dominating

“I know you’ll do the right thing,” race engineer Will Joseph told Norris. “Well, you should have pitted him first,” Norris replied.

Will Joseph and Lando Norris

With six laps to go and without 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 to go, securing Piastri’s first victory and a one-two finish for McLaren. Precedent established: the example of Hungary had clear parallels with the Monza race.

The tension and controversy intensified due to Norris’s initial reluctance to obey the team order.

2024 Italian Grand Prix: A New Chapter

Red Bull’s fight in the second half of the 2024 season opened the possibility of Norris competing for the title. McLaren had recognized this scenario, but had not supported Norris over Piastri in race situations. This changed after Monza. Norris arrived in Italy after a dominant victory in Zandvoort and secured pole position ahead of Piastri. Although he defended his initial position, Piastri, following the team’s “Papaya rules”, made a clean and decisive maneuver to take the lead. Norris, trying to avoid a collision, lost a position to Charles Leclerc, falling from the lead to third position in a few corners. Leclerc secured the victory with a one-stop strategy, while Piastri and Norris finished in second and third place respectively.

Established precedent: Following discussions after Monza, McLaren agreed to support Norris’s campaign, especially in situations with difficult decisions. Piastri would not have to concede victories to Norris, but could be asked to let lower positions pass. In addition, maneuvers that would result in a loss of positions for the team would be avoided. Piastri accepted the new race terms, recognizing the opportunity that was being offered to him. The relative harmony in the team is related to Piastri’s willingness to help Norris at the end of the 2024 season.

Brazil Sprint Race 2024: The Consolidation of Support

The only time McLaren’s decision to favor Norris in 2024 had a direct impact on a result was in the Brazilian sprint race. Piastri took pole and led Norris for 22 laps before McLaren asked him to yield to his teammate two laps from the end. Piastri’s quick response was key, as a virtual safety car threatened to prevent the exchange. Norris 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 we got 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 of their support for Norris’s candidacy, the victory in the sprint race lacked controversy. The fact that it was a sprint race and only resulted in a one-point difference also diminished the controversy.

Qatar Sprint Race 2024: The Reciprocity

In the first sprint race after Brazil, Norris saw the opportunity to return the favor to his teammate and conceded the victory to Piastri. This gesture, which went against the team’s wishes in the final laps, was an example of fair play between the drivers. Precedent established: The change initiated by the driver highlighted the sportsmanship between Norris and Piastri, even if it went against the team’s wishes in the final laps.

2025 Australian Grand Prix: First Reactions

In the first race of the 2025 season, McLaren demonstrated its advantage over the rest of the grid. However, in the first laps, McLaren issued an order for Piastri not to attack Norris. This was the first time McLaren tried to control the battle between its drivers.

Precedent established: McLaren’s team orders made sense, given the track conditions. However, it made clear how cautious McLaren was with its drivers and that, in certain circumstances, intervention could not be ruled out.

2025 Canadian Grand Prix: Maturity and Understanding

The collision between Norris and Piastri in Montreal was an example of how the drivers handled a tense moment. The nature of the accident, which saw Norris crash into the rear of Piastri, facilitated the situation. Norris apologized, and the tension was relieved thanks to the expansion of Piastri’s lead in the championship. Precedent established: The accident helped reduce internal pressure. The outcome had no impact on the relationship between the pilots.

Austrian Grand Prix 2025: Clean Races

The Austrian Grand Prix was an example of clean racing between the McLaren drivers, although Piastri received a warning for an overtaking attempt. Piastri apologized for the maneuver.

“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. I made a mistake. I know what I have to do'”.

Andrea Stella

Precedent established: McLaren viewed the situation as a test of fair racing standards between the drivers.

2025 British Grand Prix: The Failed Petition

Piastri requested, unsuccessfully, that a team order be applied after being penalized. McLaren rejected the request, which was a clear sign that it would not intervene to overrule the stewards’ decisions.

Established precedent: The penalty was the result of a mistake by Piastri, and McLaren did not intervene. Stella noted that there were no hard feelings about Piastri’s question.

2025 Hungarian Grand Prix: Alternative Strategies

McLaren underlined its policy of free racing between teammates, allowing Norris an alternative strategy. “As McLaren Racing, we want to deliver great racing to Formula 1,” Stella said.

2025 Italian Grand Prix: The Most Complex Precedent

McLaren’s decision in Monza, where Norris and Piastri’s stints were extended, is perhaps the most controversial. Norris suggested that McLaren should have pitted Piastri, but a problem in Norris’s tire change caused him to lose position. Two laps later, Piastri was ordered to give the position back to his teammate. Precedent established: The situation is complex. Stella insisted that the problem wasn’t the slow pit stop, but Piastri being the first to pit. McLaren will review its principles regarding slow pit stops and will reinforce management if necessary. McLaren faces the challenge of making future decisions in line with the precedents established in the last two years, but is committed to addressing the issues openly with the drivers to avoid surprises.