McLaren enters the 2025 Formula 1 season riding the wave of its first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years, but success brings new challenges—especially when you have two ultra-competitive drivers in the same garage.
With Lando Norris finishing second in the 2024 Drivers’ Championship and Oscar Piastri securing fourth, McLaren boasts arguably the strongest driver lineup on the grid. But could this strength actually become a weakness?
According to F1 pundit Martin Brundle, McLaren’s refusal to impose team orders could cost them a Drivers’ Championship, especially against a team like Red Bull, which is fully committed to Max Verstappen.
“McLaren has probably got the biggest challenge there,” Brundle told Sky Sports News. “They’ve got two drivers who could take points off each other. Ferrari, that could well happen too.”
The warning is clear: If Norris and Piastri take too many points off each other, they could hand Verstappen another title on a silver platter.
McLaren’s Biggest Threat? Its Own Drivers
The 2024 season introduced a new term into F1’s vocabulary—“papaya rules”.
The concept? Both McLaren drivers are free to race each other—just don’t crash.
As Norris bluntly put it: “Just don’t crash. That’s all.”
While this philosophy is great for entertainment and team morale, it raises a critical strategic question: Should McLaren sacrifice individual competition in pursuit of a Drivers’ title?
History provides some brutal lessons:
- 2007 – McLaren’s refusal to manage Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso’s rivalry cost them both the championship, allowing Kimi Räikkönen to snatch the title for Ferrari in the final race.
- 1998 & 1999 – McLaren learned from past mistakes, implementing clear team roles with David Coulthard supporting Mika Häkkinen, leading to back-to-back titles for the Finn.
If McLaren truly wants a Drivers’ Champion, Zak Brown and Andrea Stella may have to rethink their no-team-orders approach—especially with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell also in the mix.
Red Bull and Mercedes Hold the Advantage
One major advantage Red Bull holds over McLaren is its one-driver focus.
Brundle emphasized that Red Bull is built around Max Verstappen, while Mercedes and Ferrari could also face intra-team battles:
“Max and Red Bull, a one-horse race. We’ve got [Kimi] Antonelli in the Mercedes. He’s got a lot to learn, so Mercedes could be a one-horse race with George Russell, and I think that’ll play into their hands for the Drivers’ Championship.”
If Red Bull executes its traditional strategy, Verstappen will have clear team support, while McLaren risks internal chaos if Norris and Piastri push each other too hard.
Will McLaren Introduce Team Orders?
Zak Brown has made it abundantly clear—McLaren is a racing team, not a dictatorship.
But will his stance hold if a championship is on the line?
The decision to let Norris and Piastri fight freely could backfire if Verstappen capitalizes on McLaren’s divided points tally. Alternatively, if one driver clearly emerges as a title contender, could McLaren be forced to favor them?
With McLaren’s first serious shot at a Drivers’ Championship in years, expect team strategy to become a major talking point as the season unfolds.
The papaya rules may be fun for now, but if McLaren truly wants a world champion, they may have to break their own philosophy before it’s too late.