McLaren will have their hands full managing both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Both drivers lead the way in the drivers’ championship and have taken three of the four victories on offer so far this campaign.
Norris has a three-point advantage currently, but Piastri appears to have been the quicker driver for much of the season. Without his Australian Grand Prix spin, he would be leading the way.
McLaren have the fastest car and must take advantage of it this time around. The running order could completely change again for the 2026 F1 regulations and flip the grid on its head.
Norris is suffering with a car problem and cannot seem to get comfortable when in traffic. His car doesn’t respond well to dirty air.
Meanwhile, Piastri has one important ‘advantage’ over his teammate. Manager Mark Webber has Formula 1 title-chasing experience, which could prove to be handy.
READ MORE: Mark Webber shares what he privately told Oscar Piastri after he won the Bahrain Grand Prix
‘Everyone’ in the Formula 1 paddock thinks Oscar Piastri has more potential than Lando Norris
The upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be a telling event for the rest of the season. If Norris loses the championship lead, all momentum will be with Piastri.
McLaren are ‘one step ahead’ of Ferrari when it comes to understanding tyres. It’s an area that both drivers have improved in over the last year.
ESPN’s Nate Saunders has now shared evidence that suggests people in the paddock think Piastri has a higher ceiling than Norris at the top level.
“I spoke to people at the end of last year about Lando vs Oscar,” he said. “I said if you guys do have the best car next year, how do you foresee it going?
“The consensus with everyone I spoke to was Oscar’s ceiling is so high, it’s whether he can get there next year or not.
“It seems like, who knows if this is his ceiling, maybe there’s more to come, but it seems that the improvements he has made are way bigger than Lando’s.”
READ MORE: Lando Norris ‘hadn’t expected’ what he’s seen from Oscar Piastri, McLaren’s harmony is now ‘over’
Is Lando Norris the 2025 F1 title favourite after Oscar Piastri’s lightning start?
McLaren’s stance on Norris has changed, and he has opened the door for his teammate to become the number one driver at some point.
He needs a few tidy performances now to remind everyone of his talents and help give him a little bit of a gap at the top again.
On current form, Piastri has to be the favourite. He seems to have been faster at every race and is more comfortable in the car.
Perhaps the European leg of the campaign brings upgrades that will help the MCL39 suit Norris’ driving style a bit more, but until then, he has to put up with the machine in its current state.
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