McLaren, champions amid controversy: the weaknesses and challenges in F1 heading into 2025. The Woking team overtakes Red Bull and withstands Ferrari’s comeback, securing a title they had not won since 1998. A milestone achieved through brilliant technical leadership – led by an extraordinary Andrea Stella – but also through the imperfections of a season that was not always spotless.
Once again, the champions’ score is a perfect 10. For McLaren, as for Max Verstappen, it is impossible to think otherwise. This championship also represents a true surprise: who would have bet on Woking after the disastrous early races of the year? The MCL38 was still in its embryonic stage, and Red Bull’s RB20 seemed impossible to challenge.
In just a few months, everything changed, and the two Papaya drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, found themselves with the most balanced and versatile car on the grid. Four wins for the Brit, two for the Australian, were enough to fend off the ambitions of the Prancing Horse. Yet Woking’s victory hides challenges that could complicate their prospects for the next season.
Technical strength, mental strength: what McLaren lacks
What was practically impeccable all year was the technical effort of the team. Every update brought to the track brought the MCL38 closer to “the car to beat,” in a slow but steady process. While rivals rushed their developments, sometimes making mistakes, Andrea Stella consistently emphasized the importance of taking their time to avoid missteps.
A winning strategy, despite controversies over flexible wings and mini-DRS. Formula 1, after all, is also this: a technical challenge that flirts with – and sometimes crosses – the limits of the regulations. However, where McLaren falters is in the human component of the car: the two drivers behind the wheel of the Papaya machine. Invaluable talents but with clear weaknesses and a potentially destructive rivalry.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have experienced moments of absolute brilliance: the Dutch masterpiece of the former, to cite an obvious example, or the extraordinary Azerbaijani management of the latter. Winning six races in total is no small feat, and both have a bright future ahead. Some factors, however, must not be swept under the rug: changes are needed in 2025.
Norris and Piastri, the pillars of McLaren’s future
Lando Norris’s mental strength has been debated extensively. The Briton is now infamous for those small errors that characterize moments of extreme pressure: imperfect starts, wasted flying laps, and lost duels against the relentless Max Verstappen. In 2025, it will be essential to learn from these mistakes and truly convince himself he is a budding champion.
Oscar Piastri, for his part, is something of a mystery. An unquestionably skilled driver, yet sometimes inconsistent. It’s his second year in the Circus, and he has already won races; criticizing him would be unfair. However, in an open battle against other drivers with similarly competitive machinery, alternating between flawless performances and outright failures is not sustainable.
Above all, both Papaya drivers will need to come to terms with themselves: neither the Constructors’ nor the Drivers’ titles are won alone. Teamwork is crucial, and accepting the need to take a step back, if necessary, is vital. The “gift” in Qatar is an important first step toward a new, fruitful collaboration. As reigning champions, the focus of rivals – and the media – will be squarely on them.
Leave a Reply