McLaren is poised for Formula 1 dominance, and the message is clear: the Drivers’ Championship is next. After clinching their first Constructors’ title since 1998, Zak Brown’s team enters 2025 with one goal – dethroning Max Verstappen. With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the helm of the blisteringly quick MCL38, McLaren’s resurgence marks a pivotal moment in modern F1 history.
2024: The Year McLaren Took Control
Statistically, McLaren should have walked away with both titles in 2024. At the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris and Piastri locked out the front row with a dominant display of pace. Norris’ pole lap was a staggering 0.25s quicker than Ferrari, leaving Verstappen trailing by 0.35s – a rare sight after years of Red Bull dominance.
On race day, Norris secured his fourth victory of the season with calm precision, while Verstappen’s aggressive overtaking denied Piastri a McLaren one-two. But the writing was on the wall: McLaren had the best car.
As Johnny Herbert summed it up: “McLaren will dominate ahead of Red Bull, then Ferrari and Mercedes.”
The Norris-Piastri Showdown: McLaren’s Internal Battle
With a championship-caliber car in hand, the real fight brewing at McLaren might not be with Verstappen, but between their own drivers. Lando Norris, McLaren’s de facto team leader, has been exceptional this year, yet Herbert questions whether Norris possesses the “intimidation factor” to win it all:
“Lando is missing that intimidation factor at the moment. He’s been open that maybe he hasn’t brought his A-game this year. But he knows what he needs to change. This is his moment.”
Norris’ rapid evolution has been pushed by the arrival of Oscar Piastri, the cool, composed Australian who has emerged as a serious contender. With ex-Red Bull ace Mark Webber in his corner, Piastri’s gritty performances have forced Norris to dig deeper. Herbert believes Piastri could throw a wrench into Norris’ title aspirations:
“Oscar knows what he needs to do. If he comes out of the blocks dominating, then he’ll be in a very good place, but I don’t think Lando is going to allow that. The next big head-to-head will be between Oscar and Lando.”
The Verstappen Factor: McLaren’s True Test
Of course, to claim the Drivers’ crown, McLaren must overcome Max Verstappen – the sport’s most ruthless competitor. Despite Red Bull’s struggles in 2024, Verstappen still managed to win races single-handedly, leaving Sergio Perez floundering in his wake.
Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi duel with Piastri highlighted the psychological warfare he brings to the track. Herbert described Max’s daring move as “intimidation” aimed at asserting dominance over a growing threat:
“Verstappen’s dive bomb on Oscar was all about intimidation. McLaren is going to be a real threat to him next year, and Max knows it.”
But the tide may be turning. Piastri’s sharp retort on the team radio after Verstappen’s penalty – a simple “Good” – signaled that McLaren’s drivers won’t back down. According to Herbert, the rest of the grid has caught on, too:
“We’ve seen a shift this season. George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and now Oscar are all standing up to Max. It’s exactly what Formula 1 needs.”
2025: A Battle for the Ages
With McLaren set to start as title favorites for 2025, the dynamic between Norris and Piastri could ignite an intra-team rivalry for the ages. Will Norris finally unleash the A-game needed to topple Verstappen? Or will Piastri’s cold, calculated approach give him the edge?
Herbert believes that fierce competition within McLaren will only make them stronger:
“Lando has been brilliant in qualifying, and Oscar’s mindset is incredibly strong. Together, they’ll push each other to new heights.”
For Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, the challenge is clear: McLaren is coming for the crown.
The final year of the current regulations promises fireworks as F1’s titans collide. One thing is certain – the road to the 2025 championship runs through Woking, and McLaren has both the car and the drivers to end Verstappen’s dominance.
The question is: who will lead McLaren’s charge – Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri? Buckle up, because 2025 might just deliver one of the greatest title battles Formula 1 has ever seen.
