McLaren certainly looks like the team to beat now we’re two race weekends into the 2025 F1 season, with the Papaya crew taking back-to-back wins in Australia and China. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner agrees but has a warning for the team as they face stiff competition.
McLaren’s MCL39 has proven to be a potent machine so far this season. While Lando Norris has admitted that the car is difficult to drive, he can’t question its performance with the driver leading the drivers’ championship going into the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend.
Despite this strong start to the season, Steiner believes that McLaren can’t take their hands off the wheel.
“I wouldn’t say that nobody can compete with McLaren anymore,” he said on the Red Flags Podcast. “It’s not as easy as it looks, because you saw it in the sprint – if they don’t do it perfectly, they lose. McLaren can’t make any mistakes because there’s always someone ready to beat them.”
The sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix weekend saw the McLaren drivers flounder behind winner Lewis Hamilton. While Oscar Piastri managed to make a late lunge into second place, his team-mate finished eighth, a way off the expectations surrounding him.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“But if they do it perfectly, I think they’re definitely the team to beat. And yes, they were way ahead of the rest, but we’re not talking about a whole lap or something like that. Mercedes, for example, also has good speed.”
The top four teams, minus maybe Red Bull which has proven to have a difficult car to drive so far this season, have each shown impressive performance, hinting at an exciting season to come. Mercedes’ George Russell has finished on the podium in each of the Grands Prix, emerging as a strong part of the championship this year.
But it’s Oscar Piastri who has taken Steiner’s focus after missing out on a podium in Australia after a mistake in the wet, but he bounced back with a flawless drive in Shanghai, leading a one-two finish for the Woking team.
“He was better all weekend. If I had to put money on the world champion now, I would put it on Oscar Piastri. When you saw him talking after qualifying, he seemed quite cheerful. I think he is hungry for more – he is really enjoying it.”
Ferrari and Mercedes remain competitive, so the Japanese Grand Prix will be another test for McLaren as they aim to extend their lead.
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