So far the dominant force of the season, McLaren has both titles firmly in its grasp—but managing the battle between Norris and Piastri will be crucial.
McLaren is the undisputed queen of this first half of the championship. After a strong 2024 that saw the team crowned Constructors’ Champion in Abu Dhabi, there was plenty of curiosity on the eve of the new season: would the Woking squad be able to confirm itself at the top, or would it once again start out as a chaser and only climb back up the ranks later on, as had happened in the past two years?
The answers came right away: pole and victory in Australia, followed by seven one-twos in the other races, with the team now chasing its own record of 10 (set in 1988) and the all-time mark of 12 (Mercedes 2015). Andrea Stella—praised by Zak Brown as “the best team principal in Formula 1”—has brought stability and structure, transforming McLaren from a midfield outfit into a dominant force in less than two years.
The car
The MCL39 has proven to be the most complete car on the grid, capable of being competitive on every type of circuit thanks to unmatched aerodynamic efficiency. Although at the start of the season Lando Norris often complained about having a car that was “difficult to drive,” the various upgrades—such as the rear brake duct introduced at Imola—have brought the car closer and closer to perfection. Its main strength is consistency: a race pace superior to that of its direct rivals in almost every weekend.
The drivers
Oscar Piastri came into 2025 after a second half of 2024 in which, at times, he perhaps fell short of expectations—despite two wins and several podiums. Following a mistake in the season opener in Australia (which tarnished an otherwise strong performance), Piastri made a clear step forward that has established him as the favorite for the title. Four pole positions, six victories, and 12 podiums in 14 races highlight a level of consistency unmatched by any other driver so far. The Australian is fast and capable of learning from his mistakes, as he showed in Imola when he openly admitted to braking too early in his fight with Verstappen.
Lando Norris has improved compared to last year, collecting four pole positions, five wins, and 12 podiums—a margin only slightly behind his teammate, reflected in the mere nine points that separate them in the standings. Still, several mistakes remain, such as his qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia, along with a number of messy performances that often forced him to recover in the race against a cleaner, more consistent Piastri, especially in the early months. Unlike the driver of car #81, the man in car #4 remains highly self-critical—a trait that has always defined him and, while somewhat improved, continues to be a part of who he is.
The internal battle is heating up: the collision in Canada (which forced Norris to retire) and the close fights in Austria and Hungary have shown just how thin the line is between a clean overtake and the end of the race. Stella’s management will be decisive.
Best race
Hard to pick just one, but Sunday at Silverstone showcased the full extent of papaya dominance. Despite Max Verstappen starting from pole, Norris and Piastri secured a one-two finish with more than half a minute’s advantage over the third-placed driver. In a race made chaotic by weather and safety cars, McLaren seemed completely unfazed by the unexpected.
Worst race
It can only be the Canadian Grand Prix. The entire weekend was a struggle for the papaya squad: from a Friday described as “the worst of the season” to a qualifying session with no cars on the front row, McLaren never looked in contention for the win—or, incredibly, even for the podium.
The late-race collision between Norris and Piastri was just the cherry on top of a weekend to forget. Norris himself took responsibility, calling it a “stupid” move, while Stella described it as “unacceptable.” Nevertheless, the lesson seems to have strengthened internal management, as was immediately evident in the following race in Austria.
What to expect from the rest of the season
The same script as always: total dominance. Stella and Brown’s team will aim to wrap up the Constructors’ Championship as soon as possible, enjoying a massive lead—299 points—over Ferrari, the closest “challenger” (so to speak) with 260 points.
As for the Drivers’ Championship, long since an internal affair between Piastri and Norris, the nine-point gap promises a battle that could stretch all the way to Abu Dhabi. It will be interesting to see how the team manages the (inevitable) situations in which the two risk repeating what happened in Montreal.
Photo: McLaren su X
