Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sit atop the Formula 1 pile in 2025 after utilising McLaren’s advantage well through the first third of the season.
It doesn’t feel abrupt to suggest that McLaren are pretty much nailed on to win the constructors’ championship due to having two capable drivers and a sizeable advantage at some tracks.
A dominant Spanish Grand Prix was a terrific example of that, as Piastri led Norris home for a third one-two finish of the campaign.
There have been small mistakes, but generally, their operation has achieved what was expected of them over the winter. Attention will soon turn to the 2026 F1 regulations, where it will be much harder to replicate their advantage for the future.
Max Verstappen has ruled Norris out of the 2025 title fight according to Damon Hill, after experiencing a feisty battle with Piastri in Saudi Arabia earlier in the season. The Aussie certainly displays more aggressive traits than his teammate in battles on tracks.
However, there may be bigger issues to worry about. McLaren have a ‘problem’ with Norris and Piastri making small mistakes at times, believes Ralf Schumacher. In qualifying at least, Norris has been susceptible to the odd mistake, but as the season goes on, both drivers should improve.
READ MORE: Lando Norris did something ‘interesting’ after what he ‘realised’ about Oscar Piastri in Spain
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri thriving due to ‘extremely difficult’ McLaren setup advantage
Just over two years ago, McLaren began the 2023 season with the ninth fastest car and were struggling to get out of Q1. Now, McLaren get to ‘gloat’ to Red Bull about their achievements and are in the best position they have been in for nearly 30 years.
David Coulthard says Piastri is a special ‘talent’ and the statistics prove it. After nine rounds, he has won more races (5) than any of the Formula 1 drivers on the grid combined (4).
Journalist Mark Hughes mentioned on The Race’s podcast that McLaren’s advantage stems from an ‘extremely difficult’ concept they realised would be important years ago.
“They were hinting as much, the way they had waited [for] the data that was coming to them in simulation, as early as the end of 23′. So they were talking about the season that had just gone,” he said.
“They were already beginning to look at it in a much more three-dimensional way. It’s not just the downforce, it’s the balance, and these cars are extremely difficult to balance through the speed range.
“If you can get them balanced through the speed range, that in many cases is worth a lot more lap time than adding an extra bit of downforce, which the tunnel will say is good, but that’s when you have to get the driver in loop simulator to agree that the developments work.”
READ MORE: Lando Norris told he must ‘study’ key area if he wants to beat Oscar Piastri to the 2025 F1 title
How does the head-to-head between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri look at McLaren?
With a gap of 10 points in the championship, the head-to-head between the McLaren drivers is as close as you would expect.
Piastri may be in control of the Norris battle, but the Brit’s experience should come in handy later down the road. He’s visited some tracks three or four times more than Piastri in a McLaren car, and that knowledge should help him.
In qualifying, Piastri leads Norris by 5-4, and 2-0 in sprint sessions. Over one lap, there isn’t too much to separate them.
It has been a similar case on a Sunday, with Piastri holding a 5-4 advantage again, but in sprints, it’s 1-1 between the two.
It means that with a good weekend at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, Norris can level the head-to-head. That may not bother him much, with far more at stake in the title fight, but the head-to-head proves that he isn’t as far off as some may claim.
Leave feedback about this