The 2025 season has entered its decisive phase, with tension mounting both on and off the track. What initially seemed like a sporting duel between McLaren teammates has evolved into a media and technical intrigue, directly affecting the title fight. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen are battling it out over just four races—and two Sprint Races—separated by 36 points and facing almost unbearable pressure, especially for the McLaren duo, as Max is accustomed to a certain climate.
Norris has returned to the top of the standings after a season of highs and lows, but it’s not just the numbers making headlines: Bernie Ecclestone’s voice has sparked discussion. Speaking to German media outlet Sport.de, the former F1 boss launched direct accusations at McLaren, claiming the Woking team is openly favoring Norris at Oscar Piastri’s expense.
“It seems obvious to me that McLaren prefers Lando Norris in the second half of the season,” the English executive said. “At the start of the year, Piastri was clearly faster, but then things changed. They found ways to slow him down, one way or another.”
Strong words that touch sensitive nerves in an already tense environment. The team led by Andrea Stella faces a complex situation: after returning both cars to the top and winning the Constructors’ Championship convincingly, it must now manage an internal balance that risks breaking at the most critical moment. According to Bernie Ecclestone, the Australian driver is paying the price of this internal dynamic. “Piastri is frustrated. He is tired of the ‘papaya rules’ and the way team decisions seem to favor Norris. The pressure on him increases every weekend, and he can no longer win as easily as at the start of the season.”
It is a provocative perspective, yet not without merit. Recent race data indeed shows a trend reversal: since the summer break, Verstappen has collected the most points, capitalizing on the instability of the McLaren rivals. Despite a challenging start with a renewed and sometimes unpredictable Red Bull, the Dutchman has regained the consistency that has made him a reference point in recent years. This continuity has also been aided by Woking’s strict team rules, as Gunther Steiner noted in recent days.
Bernie Ecclestone backs Max
Bernie, not coincidentally, sees Max Verstappen as the favorite for the final stretch. “I think Max will win—he will do it again. He has something special, an extraordinary quality. And the next race in Brazil, with its variable weather conditions, could offer him another great opportunity,” he said.
This half-prophecy also highlights Verstappen’s mental strength compared to the turbulence at McLaren. While Norris and Piastri fight for supremacy in the spotlight, Verstappen works quietly, taking advantage of every mistake and every fragment of internal tension to chip away at valuable points.
The end of the season promises to be intense. And if Bernie Ecclestone is right, the championship could slip away from McLaren not due to technical shortcomings, but due to management mistakes.
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