McLaren seems to have lost its way. After securing their tenth Constructors’ Championship, something isn’t clicking anymore. It’s fair to ask whether the issue lies with the car or the drivers behind the wheel.
We’ve always seen a contrast between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris: Piastri, the cool-headed rookie, unfazed by pressure; Norris, the emotional one, often caught up in his own thoughts and anxieties. With five races left in the 2025 season, the tables have turned. Norris is now laser-focused, while Piastri appears to be struggling in the dark. The pressure of potentially missing out on a first world title is taking its toll, as evidenced by recent races, driver comments, and a costly mistake in Austin.
McLaren 2025: A dominant but imperfect season
The MCL39, an evolution of the 2024 car, has become the grid’s technical reference point this year. McLaren’s season has been dominant, built on reliability and sharp strategy. The numbers tell the story: 12 wins in 19 races, with Piastri’s latest victory in the Netherlands standing out.
McLaren has racked up 678 points since the season began, leading second-placed Mercedes by 337 points in the Constructors’ Championship. The papaya car has rarely faltered, except in races like Zandvoort, where technical issues forced Norris to retire, Baku due to low temperatures, and Austin. As team principal Andrea Stella explained, the Texas wind disrupted Oscar Piastri’s grip, making the tires slippery and exposing a deeper issue. If McLaren has the grid’s strongest car, what’s behind their recent performance drop?
While Woking is already looking ahead to 2026, rivals like Red Bull have closed the gap with upgrades. Max Verstappen, in particular, has roared back into contention. Add to that the fact that McLaren’s drivers, while talented, may not be the most complete package in the field.
Piastri and Norris falter as rivals rise
The 2025 season has seen a role reversal for McLaren’s drivers. Lando Norris kicked things off with a win in the opening race, followed by Oscar Piastri’s victory in the second. From there, the title fight was on. Norris has secured five wins, including standout performances in Monaco and Silverstone, while Piastri has notched seven, with triumphs in Bahrain and Jeddah.
Early in the season, Norris showed mental fragility, struggling to match Oscar Piastri’s competitiveness and lacking the ruthless edge needed against rivals. His mistake in Montréal while trying to overtake a direct competitor was a prime example. Now, the tables have turned, and Oscar Piastri is the one under pressure. He knows that at this stage, he has everything to lose, and it’s making him vulnerable. Errors in Baku, radio complaints in Monza and Singapore, and a mistake in the Texas Sprint race all point to his struggles.
That Sprint error felt like a desperate move to reassert his position within the team rather than a calculated bid for victory. His Sunday race in Austin was lackluster, and as Andrea Stella told Sky, “Piastri needs to learn to drive in all conditions.” This critique could apply to both drivers. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are fast and talented, but they’re still young and, arguably, not yet seasoned enough to battle for a world championship.
McLaren’s papaya rules: Team management or growing tensions?
Another factor in play is McLaren’s “papaya rules.” Love them or hate them, these guidelines aim to ensure clean, fair racing between teammates. But over time, they’ve sparked tensions. Inevitably, they influence race outcomes, sometimes favoring one driver over the other, as seen in the Austrian Grand Prix.
Team radio outbursts, questionable decisions, and their repercussions have fueled debate. According to The Race, these rules even give Piastri the freedom to decide the cars’ order on Saturdays. Stella and CEO Zak Brown have repeatedly stressed that their drivers are “free to race,” but the reality feels different. The risk is that McLaren is inadvertently choosing which driver will become world champion, which doesn’t align with the competitive spectacle Formula 1 promotes.
Verstappen watches, ready to pounce on McLaren
Who’s capitalizing on McLaren’s internal struggles? Max Verstappen, of course. While McLaren searches for balance, the Dutchman is seizing every opportunity. The points tell the tale:
- Oscar Piastri: 284 points before the summer break, +59 since Zandvoort
- Lando Norris: 257 points before the break, +57 post-Zandvoort
- Max Verstappen: 187 points before the break, +119 since Zandvoort—more than Norris and Piastri combined
So, to answer the initial question: McLaren has built a near-perfect car but hasn’t yet mastered the art of winning. As Norris and Piastri battle each other both on and off the track, Verstappen is the one benefiting. The Dutchman could turn their rivalry into the perfect chance to claim his fifth world title.
Leave a Reply