F1 | McLaren vs Red Bull: two philosophies clash, but which is winning?
The Milton Keynes squad has focused everything on Max Verstappen, their lead driver, while at Woking, McLaren has chosen to take both drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to the final showdown. Abu Dhabi will determine which philosophy comes out on top. A possible McLaren defeat would force a reassessment of some core team concepts.
Two contrasting paths to the top
Before becoming at the helm of a Formula 1 team, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner were drivers themselves. Andrea Stella, on the other hand, reached the top of McLaren following an engineering career, growing within high-profile technical teams. It is likely no coincidence that the two teams battling for the 2025 drivers’ title at Yas Marina operate under very different guiding principles. On one side is a project centered around a single driver, on the other, the focus is on the collective ethos of the team.
These are two philosophies at opposite ends of the spectrum, now clashing in the final 300 kilometers of a long and grueling season. Regardless of the outcome, the team that comes out on the losing side in Abu Dhabi will have many regrets. It is inevitable. When a championship is decided by just a handful of points over a season spanning 24 race weekends, the list of incidents that have cost crucial points is extensive.
Red Bull’s established system
If Max Verstappen is forced to concede the title, the regrets will be limited. Red Bull’s system has been the same for years, cemented by four drivers’ world championships and two constructors’ titles. Their methodology is tried and tested, and any loss will be easier to contextualize.
McLaren’s balancing act
The situation is very different for McLaren. The team’s overall management has worked flawlessly over the past two years, as evidenced by the 2024 and 2025 constructors’ titles. Yet, despite teams emphasizing that both titles hold value, the drivers’ championship remains the ultimate benchmark for prestige and visibility.
Last season, Max Verstappen never faced a realistic risk of defeat, but 2025 has changed the landscape drastically. From the first race in Melbourne, Max has never led the overall standings. If he manages to do so at the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi, it would be a bitter blow for McLaren. For the Woking team, the Yas Marina weekend is crucial—not just for this season but also for the team’s future strategy.
The stakes: more than just a title
What is at stake is not only the drivers’ championship but also the validation of a methodology. If Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri succeed, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown can take pride in having achieved it “their way,” proving that a team can reach the top without having to designate a clear number-one driver and sacrifice the second. However, if Verstappen claims his fifth world title in Abu Dhabi, McLaren will face inevitable questions about their approach, methods, and philosophy. No matter the outcome, the Abu Dhabi weekend will mark a clear turning point.
Whatever the chequered flag shows on Sunday night, the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be remembered as a watershed moment – the race that finally settled one of modern Formula 1’s biggest debates: build everything around your star driver, or believe two genuine title contenders can coexist in perfect harmony?
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