McLaren CEO Zak Brown has stated that the team will only fully support one of their drivers in the championship battle when the other is no longer in contention mathematically. The current scenario sees a close 14-point margin between McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris with five races remaining in the 2025 season.
Following Norris’ mechanical retirement in the Dutch Grand Prix, Piastri gained a significant 34-point lead over his teammate. However, Norris has since made a strong comeback, consistently outscoring Piastri in the past four Grand Prix events. Despite their efforts, both McLaren drivers have been overshadowed by reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who has made an impressive resurgence, narrowing the gap to the frontrunners.
There were speculations about McLaren favoring one driver over the other due to Verstappen’s resurgence, but CEO Brown has clarified that McLaren will continue to let Piastri and Norris race each other as long as it remains fair and respectful. Brown emphasized that the team will only intervene to support one driver if it becomes impossible for the other to secure the championship.
While acknowledging Verstappen’s formidable form, Brown expressed caution about the Dutch driver’s threat in the title fight. Piastri, on the other hand, remains determined to avoid any preferential treatment from the team, ensuring a fair competition with Norris until the end of the season.
With McLaren opting not to impose team orders, both Piastri and Norris face the challenge of pursuing their maiden Drivers’ Championship titles independently. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has offered valuable advice to the McLaren drivers, emphasizing the need to be ruthless and resilient in their battle against competitors like Verstappen.