The 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship battle has reached a decisive stage. Every single point matters, and in this context it is often the smallest details that make the difference. Much has been said about the comeback of Max Verstappen, who could still threaten the two main contenders, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, after consecutive wins at the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix. The possibility remains open, as it always does, but with a 69-point deficit to the Australian, it is clear that the title fight is mainly an internal McLaren duel between the papaya-colored drivers.
However, while McLaren has so far appeared unwilling to take sides—going as far as issuing controversial team orders—a significant issue has emerged: the team has become notably slower in pit stops. Norris has suffered the most from this decline, particularly across the Monza and Baku weekends.
Some suggest it could even be a subtle way of holding back one of the contenders in order to favor the other without raising suspicion. But there are reasons to question this theory. For instance, at Monza, the team ordered Oscar Piastri to give up position to Norris after the stops. Why would they deliberately slow down Norris in the pits only to ask the championship leader to hand him back the place? The logic does not quite add up.
Looking at the data published by The Race, which compiled an average pit stop ranking over the last six Grands Prix, we can see that Norris has indeed been the slowest driver in the pits. However, Piastri is also struggling with similar issues, pointing to a team-wide problem rather than a targeted strategy. The average times (in descending order) are as follows:
- Norris (McLaren) – 3.98s (average over last six races)
- Piastri (McLaren) – 2.69s (average over last six races)
- Hamilton (Ferrari) – 2.32s (average over last six races)
- Verstappen (Red Bull) – 2.28s (average over last six races)
- Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 2.18s (average over last six races)
- Leclerc (Ferrari) – 2.12s (average over last six races)
This indicates the issue concerns the whole team, not just one driver. The biggest troubles were seen in Monza and Baku. In Azerbaijan, Piastri could not even complete a stop after a first-lap mistake, which partly explains why his average time is so much lower compared to Norris.
From speculation to possible explanation
So where does this problem come from? Is McLaren genuinely struggling, or are they taking calculated risks? It’s difficult to answer with certainty. If we compare McLaren’s pit stop performance from last year to this season, we notice they still hold the second-best average time. The only change is that Ferrari has taken the top spot from Red Bull, which led the ranking in 2024.
Given this, it seems unlikely that McLaren has suffered a sudden collapse. A more plausible theory is that the team is experimenting with new procedures—or even testing new equipment—taking “calculated risks” that could prove valuable when the 2026 regulatory era begins. With the constructors’ championship already secured and the drivers’ title essentially a fight between its two own drivers, McLaren may be using this situation to prepare strategically for the future.
In this sense, the slightly slower pit stops might not be a weakness at all, but rather part of a bigger picture. It could be a sacrifice now in exchange for long-term benefits, helping McLaren remain among the fastest pit crews on the grid when the new rules come into play. A risky strategy, yes, but one that could allow the papaya team to strengthen its position at the dawn of a new Formula 1 era.
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