McLaren is undoubtedly one of the teams to watch in 2025 after they ended the season on a high note in Abu Dhabi, taking the Constructors’ Championship with a dominant performance from Lando Norris.
Martin Brundle has tipped Norris to be a title contender in 2025 based on that performance, given he will also be entering his seventh season at the team.
Norris taking a lot of that momentum into the winter break, with Zak Brown also saying that the Briton has learned from racing with Max Verstappen and plans to improve his race craft.
If McLaren does emerge from the winter break at the team to beat, Norris might have a big challenge from his teammate Oscar Piastri to deal with. The Australian showed promise last season taking two victories at Baku and Hungary, and is expected to win more races in 2025.
Former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner believes Piastri will be one to watch for the title this year when speaking to Herald Sun, given how well he has performed in previous seasons.
Guenther Steiner tips Oscar Piastri for 2025 title
Piastri’s junior formula record prior to joining the F1 grid was impressive, winning in every category on his way through the ranks.
The Australian became the most sought-after driver when he went through a contract dispute with Alpine and McLaren, after the French team failed to offer him a drive in the early months of 2022.
Steiner thinks Piastri has enough experience to challenge for his first F1 title, providing McLaren has the car to beat.
“I think he has the right car now and I think this is his year,” said Steiner.
“Coming in as a rookie he overdelivered for a rookie in 2023 and in ’24 he followed up with some improvement. And this year, now he’s ready to go for it.”
Guenther Steiner thinks Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are ‘very close’ in title battle
Norris and Piastri are expected to be close on form this year, although the Australian has often lacked in qualifying performances.
Steiner thinks the pressure will be on Piastri to improve, especially as McLaren will be expecting their drivers to maximise their results at the start of the season.
“One of the things to look forward to for sure this year is McLaren because I think talent-wise, Lando and Oscar are very close.
“I think they are the same. They have got the same speed … I think as the season goes they will want one of their guys to go for the driver’s championship.
“Obviously the pressure now comes onto Oscar because he shows he can do it. Now he needs to want it a little bit more because he wants to win a world championship now.”
Team principal Andrea Stella has not ruled out having to employ team orders, although both drivers are aware they are free to race in the early stages of the campaign.
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