David Croft thinks McLaren can now copy Mercedes with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in 2025 title battle

McLaren are the favourites to win the 2025 title with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, having now built up a 20-point gap to Max Verstappen.

Red Bull started the year on the back foot with a car that is difficult to get into the right operating window on track, impacting Verstappen’s ability to defend his title crown.

Piastri is the clear favourite at the moment, having won half the races this year, but Norris has now closed the gap to within three points after an impressive display at Monaco.

Mario Andretti thinks McLaren need back either Piastri or Norris, now that Red Bull is fully focused on the Drivers’ Championship with Verstappen.

But when discussing the title battle on the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast, David Croft thinks McLaren should take inspiration from Mercedes.

David Croft thinks McLaren should take inspiration from Mercedes in 2016

McLaren’s advantage is similar to Mercedes’ at the start of the hybrid era, when only Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton could effectively win races.

However, McLaren have not ruled out using team orders if Norris and Piastri take points off each other. But Croft thinks their advantage is good enough that they should let their drivers battle on track.

“If it needed doing, why wasn’t it brought in at the start of the season? Why wait eight races? If it’s going to have a dramatic effect, then someone was flexing too much at the start of the season,” said

“Therefore, it could’ve been nipped in the bud straight away. We’ve had to wait until Spain, it just seems a bit of a compromise.”

McLaren now over 100 points ahead in Constructors’ Championship

McLaren are now over 100 points ahead in the Constructors’ battle, meaning they can pretty much focus on their chances in the Drivers’ Championship.

The team have amassed 319 points after just seven rounds, with Mercedes a further 172 points behind.

Their points tally could come close to what Red Bull achieved during their dominant year in 2023, when they amassed 860 points between Verstappen and Sergio Perez, having won all but one of the 24 races.

McLaren will be hopeful that their advantage continues after the Spanish GP when a major regulation change is set to be introduced concerning front wing flexing.