McLaren will change its approach if Norris and Piastri fight for the title in 2025
Andrea Stella has explained how McLaren will approach the situation if Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri find themselves fighting for the championship in 2025, with the team boss hoping it could be an "opportunity" rather than a "problem".
The Woking team had a solid season in 2024, transitioning from an initial phase of scoring points to regularly fighting for podiums and victories throughout the year. This series of performances allowed them to surpass Red Bull at the top of the constructors’ standings after the 18th round in Singapore, before holding off an offensive from Ferrari to win the title for the first time since 1998.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris has become the closest rival to Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship, although he has not managed to narrow the gap with the Dutchman. However, the Briton has shown confidence in what could be possible in 2025. If McLaren starts the season with the same level of performance they displayed at the end of the 2024 season, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could both contend for the title.
A battle between Norris and Piastri?
Although this was not a situation encountered by the team last year, some incidents related to team orders were not always perfectly managed, such as the call asking Lando Norris to let Oscar Piastri pass at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Asked about a possible change in approach if the drivers were to compete for the championship in 2025, Andrea Stella responded: « First of all, I hope you are right [that they fight for the title]. We really want to have that kind of problem. We have worked very hard to have a problem consisting of having a car capable of winning races and two drivers capable of winning races. And we know that this type of situation in Formula 1 always comes with certain complications. »
« But these are complications we have already faced to some extent this season. I think we have always approached this cohesively. Both drivers have always been fully aware that we must find solutions that prioritize the team’s interests first, and then those of the drivers. »
« So far, I think this process has been very positive. It’s a process we plan to continue next season. But before thinking about this issue, we need to think… We call it an issue, but it’s potentially more of an opportunity », details the McLaren boss.
Andrea Stella also emphasized that the team’s priority will be to provide both drivers with a car capable of fighting for the title from the start of the season, a goal they did not achieve in 2024. “Our objective is to ensure, from a technical standpoint, that we give Lando and Oscar a car capable of fighting for the championship,” continued the Team Principal.
« If we had achieved that at the beginning of this season, without some underperformances in the first races, we would have been able to fight longer for the drivers’ championship », he concluded.
