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McLaren May Face Internal Driver Battle in F1 2025, Warns Gary Anderson
McLaren’s resurgence in Formula 1, capped by their first Constructors’ Championship win since 1998 last season, could face a new challenge in 2025—managing the dynamic between their drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Gary Anderson, a former F1 technical director, believes the team must be vigilant to ensure harmony within the driver lineup.
In 2024, Norris and Piastri formed a strong partnership that propelled McLaren past Ferrari in the standings. However, tension surfaced when Piastri, in his second season, showed little inclination to play a supporting role to Norris, particularly early in the season. This was evident in races like Hungary and Italy, where Piastri finished ahead of Norris despite the latter being in a title hunt against Max Verstappen.
To address this, McLaren introduced the ‘Papaya Rules’—a set of internal guidelines aimed at managing team strategy and minimizing intra-team rivalry. These rules saw Piastri adopt a more cooperative stance in the latter part of the season, such as yielding to Norris during the Brazilian Sprint race. Nevertheless, Anderson suggests that this compliance may have been influenced by Piastri’s slow start to the season, which left him trailing Norris in the points standings.
Heading into 2025, both drivers will start afresh, with Piastri now entering his third year in F1. The Australian will be keen to assert himself as a genuine contender, especially given his strong performances in 2024. With McLaren opting against implementing strict team orders, Anderson predicts the rivalry could intensify, potentially creating friction within the team.
“From my point of view, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are the most evenly matched pairing on the grid,” Anderson stated. He emphasized the importance of McLaren closely monitoring the relationship to prevent tensions from boiling over, as both drivers are expected to push each other hard.
As McLaren aims to defend their Constructors’ title and potentially challenge for the Drivers’ Championship, the interplay between Norris and Piastri could prove critical. While their competition might drive the team forward, McLaren must balance individual ambitions with team success to avoid internal conflicts derailing their progress.
The 2025 season promises to be a defining year for the Woking-based team, as they navigate this high-stakes dynamic while competing at the front of the grid.
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