The final four races of the 2025 Formula 1 season will decide who becomes world champion between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. But McLaren also needs to watch its back, with Max Verstappen still lurking as a constant threat. The scenario is strikingly similar to 2007, when the Woking team found itself in a tense internal battle — yet the current McLaren management has made it clear: they would rather lose as true racers than favor one of their two drivers.
The 2025 season is entering its decisive phase, with the championship still wide open and full of storylines. McLaren’s two drivers are separated by just a single point, while Verstappen remains close behind, ready to seize any opportunity like a mosquito buzzing around his rivals, waiting to strike and keep his own title hopes alive.
This thrilling championship fight is the result of McLaren’s steady progress over the past few years. The team has climbed from struggling at the back of the grid in early 2023 to now leading the way in a campaign it has dominated on merit — at least in the constructors’ standings, which have already been wrapped up with several rounds to spare.
What remains open, however, is the battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. It’s a contest shaped by the “racer” philosophy set in place by Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown — the key figures behind McLaren’s revival. From the very beginning, they established equality between their drivers as a fundamental rule. “We are racers. We are McLaren Racing. We are here to race,” Stella explained during Formula 1’s official podcast, Beyond the Grid.
“I’ve agreed with Zak on this from day one. We are racers, and we’ll approach this challenge like racers. We’ll also accept the discomfort that this philosophy can bring. When we spoke to our drivers, we made it clear that we support their ambitions and want them to race, but there are a few rules because they share the same garage.”
“Of course, there are practical rules — like pit stop order or who exits the pit lane first — since both drivers operate from the same garage. But aside from that, and the obvious need to avoid contact, there are no other restrictions. We want to see them fight fairly, with respect for the McLaren brand and its history. That’s more important than me, Zak, or the drivers. It’s bigger than all of us.”
This clear policy is aimed at ensuring both drivers enjoy the same opportunities. However, some of McLaren’s strategic calls and team orders have sparked controversy, as if the team were influencing the title battle after all. The Woking-based outfit is aware of this perception but insists it remains aligned with its philosophy of fairness and integrity.
The presence of Max Verstappen complicates things further for McLaren — not only because the Dutchman could still take points off both McLaren drivers, but also because Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could take points away from each other, opening the door for Verstappen to steal the crown if he consistently finishes ahead in the final races. Team Principal Stella addressed that risk directly.
“If Max ends up winning the title this year, what matters most to us is knowing that we did our best while staying true to our racing philosophy. And if Max wins this year, then we’ll come back stronger and win together next year,” Andrea Stella said. He also emphasized that McLaren will not show favoritism between its two drivers, no matter what’s at stake.
The team’s stance is crystal clear — even if it means losing the championship in painful fashion. McLaren is determined not to repeat the mistakes of favoritism, even if it risks a repeat of 2007. “If Max wins, I’ll shake his hand and say ‘well done.’ What matters is that if we lose, it’s because he beat us — not because we beat ourselves,” Zak Brown stated firmly.
Brown’s reference to 2007 was deliberate. “We know 2007 very well — two drivers level on points, one ahead at the finish. But we have two drivers who both want to win the championship. We’re playing on the attack, not on defense. I’d rather say that we gave our all, that our drivers were equal, and someone else beat us.”
“I’d prefer that to telling one of our drivers — when they’re neck and neck — that it’s not their year because we flipped a coin. Forget it. That’s not how we race. If 2007 happens again, I’d prefer that outcome to any that would come from favoritism. We simply won’t do it.”
Andrea Stella, for his part, echoed the same sentiment, highlighting how he has watched both drivers grow within the team. “When you’re in my position, it’s like having two children and someone asks you, ‘Which one is your favorite?’ But they’re both my children — how could I choose? Sometimes, when I read certain comments, I find them very superficial. I simply feel very grateful to both of them, with complete fairness.”
With only a handful of races remaining, McLaren stands firm in its commitment to let Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fight freely for the world title — even if it means reliving the heartbreak of 2007. For the Woking team, racing with integrity is more important than winning at any cost.
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