Two Grands Prix into the 2025 Formula One season, McLaren have quickly moved to the top of the standings, showing a level of form that makes them early title favourites. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri each have a win to their name and the MCL39 looks the most complete package on the grid. But even with a perfect start to the campaign, McLaren’s leadership is not getting carried away with early success.
Zak Brown, the team’s CEO, is well aware that McLaren’s lead could be temporary if they do not continue to develop. And when it comes to identifying the biggest threat to their championship ambitions, Brown has one team in mind – Ferrari.
Ferrari’s star power could be the difference
Despite sitting behind both McLaren and Mercedes in the constructors’ standings after the opening two races, Brown believes their potential lies in the strength of their driver line-up.
“I suspect that Ferrari will be our biggest challenge over the course of the season because of their driver pairing,” said Brown, referring to Charles Leclerc and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. “But to be honest, I don’t want to say too much. We take everybody seriously.
Ferrari haven’t quite managed to convert their pace into consistent results in the early rounds, but their combination of experience and speed could prove decisive as the season progresses. Both Hamilton and Leclerc are experienced race winners, capable of producing brilliance on any given Sunday. And as Brown sees it, it’s not just about performance in isolation, but the ability to be in the mix every weekend.
“Even though they’ve scored less than half as many points as Red Bull, we can probably count on Lewis and Charles to be up there every weekend,” he added.
Mercedes in the mix, Antonelli learning fast
While Ferrari may be McLaren’s biggest long-term threat, Mercedes currently sit second in the championship, buoyed by the consistency of George Russell. Brown was quick to acknowledge Russell’s contribution, describing his performances as “fantastic”.
But perhaps more intriguing for Mercedes is the development of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The teenage rookie has shown flashes of brilliance and Brown is confident that he will only get better as the year progresses.
“He’s a rookie and he’s going to have some outstanding weekends,” explained Brown, “but also one or two events where he’s still learning something new.
That learning curve is to be expected, especially in a pressure cooker like F1. At the moment, Mercedes look competitive, if still a few tenths off McLaren’s raw pace.
Hamilton “leaks” poor Ferrari decision which caused DSQ
Red Bull falter as new line-up struggles to find balance
Perhaps the biggest surprise so far in 2025 has been Red Bull Racing’s stuttering start. The reigning Constructors’ Champions have only managed to score points through Max Verstappen, with newcomer Liam Lawson yet to crack the top 10. It’s a situation Brown didn’t hesitate to point out.
“Red Bull is obviously struggling with the driver situation,” he remarked bluntly.
While Verstappen remains a formidable force on track, his efforts have essentially been those of a one-man army. The team’s inability to get Lawson into points positions has raised serious concerns about the depth and balance of the squad. At this stage of the season, Red Bull appear vulnerable, especially compared to the more balanced driver pairings at McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
McLaren’s advantage: A small but significant advantage
According to team principal Andrea Stella, McLaren currently have a slight advantage over the field – but it’s far from a dominant lead. Speaking to Sky Sports, Stella offered a realistic assessment of the team’s current position.
“We have a lead of one to two tenths of a second per lap,” he said. “Which isn’t much.”
That margin, while meaningful, is wafer-thin in the context of F1. A bad upgrade, a bad weather call or a mistake in the pits can wipe out such an advantage in an instant. That is why Stella preaches constant development and vigilance.
“This just shows that we need to continue improving the car. This is a clear message to the whole team: We’re not resting on our laurels,” he explains. “We want to continue developing the car, our processes and everything around it”.
Stella also laughed off talk of McLaren replicating the dominance of Red Bull. He believes such comparisons are a distraction rather than helpful analysis.
“Formula One is in an incredible state at the moment,” he said. “Four teams can win every race. That creates excitement – but also pressure. We just look at the numbers. That’s all that matters. And we certainly don’t get carried away.”
Managing the Norris-Piastri dynamic
One potential headache for McLaren lies not with their rivals, but within their own garage. With both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri having already won a race this season, the internal competition for the Drivers’ Championship could intensify. As the stakes rise, so too does the possibility of friction between the two young stars.
For the time being, Stella isn’t worried. The team’s approach, he says, is rooted in shared values and mutual respect.
“Everyone brings the core values to support the team. For me, it’s important that these core values are sound and in line with our principles,” explains Stella.
He credits both Norris and Piastri with embodying the culture McLaren is trying to build. “We are very fortunate to have Oscar and Lando because they naturally represent these values,” he says. “It enhances the performance of the whole team.”
Lawson out, Horner: “Go with the fastest driver”
Prepared for conflict – but always learning
Even with a harmonious start to the campaign, Stella knows that conflicts can arise. Whether it’s an incident on the track or tensions over strategy, the team must be prepared to deal with internal challenges in a mature way.
“Sure, situations can arise,” admits Stella. “But I’m just as sure that we’ll learn from them and continue to grow in how we protect the team’s interests.”
The team already has experience of managing intra-team dynamics from last year, when they introduced the so-called “Papaya Rules” – a set of internal guidelines for how Norris and Piastri should compete on track. Stella believes those protocols, and the lessons learned from applying them in 2024, will serve McLaren well this season.
However, he warns against complacency. “It would be arrogant to say ‘we’re ready now’ or ‘we were ready before’. You’re always learning,” he said.
This philosophy also extends beyond driver management. Stella says that learning and adapting is essential in every aspect of the sport – from performance and reliability to operations and team culture.
“The potential points of friction between drivers are very complex and never the same,” he noted. “You just have to keep learning – just like with performance, reliability and processes. And the same goes for managing a team.”
A long season ahead
With just two races completed, the 2025 Formula One season remains wide open. McLaren have earned the right to be considered the early frontrunners, but no one within the team is celebrating just yet. The reality is that Ferrari, Mercedes and even a wounded Red Bull are still threats. And the internal harmony that now exists could be tested as the title battle heats up.
For McLaren, success in 2025 won’t just be about who has the fastest car. It will be about who can evolve, adapt and keep their heads in the most pressurised environment in motorsport. And for all their optimism at the start of the season, both Zak Brown and Andrea Stella treat every weekend as a new battle – because in this era of F1, the top of the mountain is always one mistake away from slipping out of reach.
READ MORE – F1 rookie review: “The good the bad and the ugly”
BREAKING F1 NEWS – Lawson sacked
Red Bull shake-up sends shockwaves through the paddock: Lawson demoted, Tsunoda promoted and Verstappen reportedly furious – The 2025 Formula One season has barely begun and already the first major line-up shake-up has sent shockwaves through the paddock. Red Bull Racing has executed a surprising and controversial driver switch that sees Liam Lawson demoted to the secondary team, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri, now officially branded as VCARB), while Yuki Tsunoda is promoted to the top-tier Red Bull Racing squad.
This dramatic internal reshuffle has sparked outrage behind closed doors – most notably from Max Verstappen, who is reportedly “not happy” with the decision and has raised fresh concerns about his own future with the team…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
