McLaren threatened again with team order row – McLaren’s internal battle: Can Piastri and Norris keep the balance in 2025? Team orders in Formula One have always been a contentious issue, especially when two competitive drivers within a team are vying for victories and championship glory. At McLaren, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris find themselves in exactly this situation ahead of the 2025 season.
While Red Bull have long had a clearly defined number one driver in Max Verstappen, McLaren insist that their two drivers will start the season on an equal footing. The question remains: how long can this balance last?
A clear battle for victory
“Our goal as a team and as drivers is to get a one-two every race weekend and then fight for victory,” says Piastri, emphasising the internal duel with Norris.
The Australian makes his intentions clear: “Everyone starts from zero points and my goal is to be world champion this year.”
Piastri is confident that McLaren can provide him with a competitive car from the outset, allowing him to challenge for race wins and ultimately the title. “Hopefully we have a car that can do that right from the start. Everyone in the team has that mentality – you just have to have it. But we’ve proven many times that we can race hard but fair. As long as we don’t take any points away from the team, that will be our approach for the season.
However, with two highly ambitious drivers in the same team, tensions could inevitably arise as the championship battle heats up.
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Lessons from 2024: Will team orders become inevitable?
Last season saw several moments of tension between Piastri and Norris, as McLaren initially allowed them to race freely – as long as their battles remained fair. However, this approach sometimes resulted in points being deducted, something Norris later lamented when reflecting on his title battle with Verstappen.
One of the most pivotal moments in McLaren’s team order policy came at Monza, when the team for the first time made a crucial decision in favour of one driver – Norris – to ensure the best possible outcome for the championship.
A similar scenario could unfold in 2025, with McLaren potentially having to make difficult decisions once again. Piastri acknowledges the reality of the situation, but remains focused on his individual ambitions.
“We both start from scratch and there is an opportunity for both of us to win races.”
However, he also recognises the importance of teamwork.
“If there is a big difference in points towards the end of the season and one of us needs the other’s support, then of course we will help each other. But there’s a long way to go before that happens, and ideally it won’t come to that – after all, each of us wants to win the title on our own.”
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Norris: “Everyone wants to beat their team-mate”
Norris echoes Piastri’s sentiments, insisting that their rivalry will remain intense but fair.
“I want to fight hard but fair with Oscar,” he says. “And ideally it will be for first and second place.”
Having finished runner-up in the 2024 championship, Norris is more determined than ever to take the final step towards the title. He believes Piastri is also capable of mounting a championship challenge.
“Of course he is hungry for a title – every driver is. And yes, he is definitely capable of becoming world champion. But for me and the team, the approach remains to take it one race at a time.”
For Norris, the dynamics within the team will be key. “Everyone wants to beat their team-mate. That’s normal, that’s the expectation. But I hope our dynamic doesn’t change too much. Of course things will be different in some ways – that is the nature of competition. There will be moments where we’ll be fighting closer together and going wheel-to-wheel more often.
However, Norris admits that as the season progresses there may be a need for “more rules or a stricter approach” at certain moments. “But we proved last year that we can work well together. Until Baku, there was no prioritisation between the two of us – we just fought each other. The team let us drive freely.
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McLaren’s approach: Equal opportunities, but for how long?
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella acknowledges the challenge of managing two highly ambitious drivers, both with world championship aspirations. But he sees the challenge as a positive sign. “It means we have done a good job as a team.”
Stella makes it clear that both Piastri and Norris will be given equal opportunities at the start of the season. At the same time, he insists that McLaren has a clear policy in place to manage the competition between the two.
“Open and honest communication is essential to avoid tension,” he explains. “This is exactly what has worked in the past.”
The Italian also emphasises McLaren’s primary responsibility in the title fight.
“As a team we are in the fortunate position of having two drivers with the potential to be champions. The biggest responsibility now is ours – to give them a car that is competitive from the start.”
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Is Red Bull’s approach an advantage?
While McLaren remain committed to their equal status approach, the question remains – will the team eventually have to decide on a number one driver?
Red Bull’s long-established hierarchy, with Verstappen as the clear team leader, has eliminated internal rivalries and provided a stable environment for the Dutchman to dominate in recent years. Some argue that this approach is a strategic advantage.
“It’s a different dynamic, of course. Max is established and we know how strong he is,” says Piastri.
However, the Australian sees the McLaren situation as having its own advantages.
“The opportunity to learn from each other is a huge advantage for both of us. Although the time saved by each of us through the other cannot be measured exactly, I am convinced that it exists.”
Ultimately, Piastri believes that a world champion earns his title regardless of the team dynamic.
“A world champion always earns his title – no matter who his team-mate is. Maybe it’s easier for Max in a way, because he doesn’t have any internal points deductions. But who knows, maybe Liam [Lawson] will surprise us all. I know him and I know how strong he is.”
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A season of intrigue ahead
With both Piastri and Norris determined to fight for their first world championship, McLaren find themselves in a precarious yet exciting position. If the team produces a car capable of consistently challenging Red Bull, internal tensions could escalate as the season progresses.
How long will McLaren allow both drivers to compete on equal terms? Will the team be forced to make a tough decision later in the year? And could this dynamic ultimately affect the outcome of the 2025 championship?
One thing is certain – both Piastri and Norris are aware of the stakes and neither is prepared to back down. The battle within McLaren could prove to be one of the defining storylines of the season, and how the team handles it could determine whether they can finally dethrone Red Bull at the top of Formula One.
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The 2025 Formula One season took its first baby steps from a relatively long winter. Yes Lewis Hamilton has been grabbing the headlines for the past couple of weeks with his testing in previous years Ferrari cars, but now McLaren have fired the starting gun as their challenger for 2025 hit the track.
It was a rainy day in Silverstone yet the camouflage style papaya livery of the MCL39 stood out from grey background as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took to the track for the first of their two ‘filming days.’
These days which are FIA approved, were intended for teams to record video footage for promotional purposes. Yet as everyone now knows, each team uses one of their allowance in February to shakedown the car since the pre-season testing days in Jerez were withdrawn for cost saving purposes…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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