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Oscar Piastri vs. Lando Norris: The McLaren Power Struggle That Could Explode in 2025

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 10, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Oscar Piastri Faces a Career-Defining Crossroad Amidst McLaren’s Post-Championship Tensions

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 30, 2024 McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates winning the sprint race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

McLaren’s driver rivalry is reaching boiling point—and Lando Norris is on notice.

According to former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, if Norris lets his guard down, Oscar Piastri could ‘destroy him’ in 2025.

While Norris held the upper hand in 2024, Piastri is rapidly closing the gap, setting up what could be one of the fiercest intra-team battles in Formula 1 next season.

The question is: Will Norris keep his status as McLaren’s No. 1 driver, or will Piastri’s rise shift the balance of power?


The Battle So Far: Norris Leads, But Piastri Is Closing In

The 2024 F1 season saw McLaren take a huge leap forward, with both Norris and Piastri delivering standout performances:

✅ Norris challenged Verstappen’s dominance, proving to be one of the fastest drivers on the grid.
✅ Piastri celebrated two Grand Prix victories, taking his first career win in Hungary and following it up with a masterful defense against Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Azerbaijan.
✅ McLaren became a true threat to Red Bull, with both drivers proving they could fight at the front.

However, raw statistics still favored Norris:

📊 Out-qualified Piastri in 21 out of 24 races.
📊 Consistently faster race pace.
📊 More podiums, more points, and a clear edge in team dynamics.

But Piastri is no rookie anymore. His ability to adapt and improve under pressure has caught the attention of F1 insiders, and Montoya believes 2025 could be the year the tide turns.


Montoya’s Warning: Piastri Could Get in Norris’ Head

Montoya, a former Williams and McLaren driver, knows firsthand how team battles can make or break a career.

🗣️ “Lando Norris has the best opportunity if McLaren continues to make the best car, but he cannot relax this season.”

According to Montoya, mental strength will be key, and Norris must be prepared for a more confident and aggressive Piastri:

🗣️ “If Norris relaxes and Oscar Piastri gets better, it can destroy Norris. Piastri needs to out-qualify Norris a few times to boost his confidence.”

While Norris has been the stronger race-day driver, Montoya believes that if Piastri starts beating him on Saturdays, it could create a psychological advantage that might shake Norris’ confidence.

🗣️ “Norris has better race pace than Piastri, so if Piastri can outperform Norris in qualifying and make the strategy of winning the race in his favour, it could get into Norris’ head and force him to make mistakes.”


The Bigger Picture: Can McLaren Challenge for the Title?

With Red Bull’s 2024 dominance still fresh, McLaren’s steady rise has made them one of the top challengers in 2025.

💡 If McLaren continues to develop at this pace, both Norris and Piastri could find themselves in the title hunt—but only one will emerge as McLaren’s lead driver.

🔹 For Norris: 2025 is his biggest opportunity yet. With McLaren delivering a competitive car, he has no excuses left. If he wants to become a world champion, he must beat Piastri convincingly.

🔹 For Piastri: This is his moment to step up. He has already proven he can win races. Now, he needs to show that he can take the fight to Norris consistently—and if he does, McLaren may no longer be a one-driver team.


Final Verdict: A Rivalry That Could Define the 2025 Season

🏁 Norris is still the frontrunner at McLaren—but Piastri is knocking on the door.
🏁 If Piastri improves in qualifying, Norris could find himself under serious pressure.
🏁 If McLaren delivers a title-contending car, this could be the most explosive teammate battle on the grid.

The stakes have never been higher for either driver.

Will Lando Norris finally cement himself as a championship-caliber driver? Or will Oscar Piastri shake up McLaren’s hierarchy and take over as the team’s new star?

One thing is certain: This McLaren battle is just getting started.

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