McLaren "confused" The Battle of the No.1 Driver Status...Read mor

McLaren “confused” as Lando Norris warned about “No1” driver status

McLaren’s current dynamics have sparked discussions within the Formula 1 community, particularly concerning the team’s driver hierarchy. Despite McLaren’s official stance of not designating a No. 1 or No. 2 driver, recent performances by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have fueled speculation about the potential shift in team priorities.

Former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan recently weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Piastri’s impressive form could soon challenge Norris’s position as McLaren’s top driver. While both drivers have secured Grand Prix victories this season, Norris’s win came earlier in Miami, followed by Piastri’s maiden victory in Hungary.

Piastri’s recent performances, especially his drive in Belgium where he finished just behind the disqualified George Russell and race winner Lewis Hamilton, have drawn particular attention. Jordan, speaking on the Formula For Success podcast, highlighted Piastri’s ability to match the pace of the Mercedes cars, suggesting that McLaren’s rival teams might be paying close attention.

“Toto must be thinking to himself, ‘We have got to counteract what’s going on here with McLaren because they look incredibly strong with two brilliant drivers,’” Jordan remarked. He emphasized that while having two competitive drivers is exciting for fans, it can create challenges within the team, particularly when it comes to determining driver status.

Jordan, who initially affirmed Norris as McLaren’s No. 1 driver, hinted that this could change depending on the outcomes of the upcoming races. “Is Lando No. 1 in that team? I said without any question, yes. And I’d still say that today if you asked me. But give me a couple more races and we might have to adjust that,” he stated.

Former F1 driver David Coulthard, also participating in the podcast, noted that the internal competition between Norris and Piastri is a positive problem for McLaren to have, as it pushes both drivers to perform at their best. “It’s a good problem for McLaren to have, with two top drivers pushing each other,” Coulthard said.

However, the harmony within McLaren was tested during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Norris hesitated for several laps before following team orders to allow Piastri to pass. This incident prompted Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to question McLaren’s strategy, particularly regarding their decision to prioritize Piastri’s win over Norris.

“Lando is the experienced driver and the No. 1 driver, I assume,” Horner commented in an interview with Sky Sports. He went on to caution that such decisions could have significant implications later in the season. “If this championship is lost by seven points at the end of the year, every point counts,” Horner added. “Different teams go racing in different ways. But Lando is the closest challenger, and you have to put your eggs in one basket at some point.”

Despite the external pressures and the speculation, McLaren has so far refrained from officially naming Norris as their priority driver. Team CEO Zak Brown expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress this season, highlighting their ten consecutive podium finishes and both drivers’ victories. “Ten podiums in a row isn’t too bad. Second in the drivers’ championship with both drivers having won,” Brown stated.

Nevertheless, Brown acknowledged that the team has made mistakes throughout the season and emphasized their commitment to learning and improving. “That said, we’re not perfect. We have made errors over the course of the season. We’ll learn from those and improve,” Brown concluded.

As the season progresses, the internal dynamics at McLaren will undoubtedly be closely watched, especially as Piastri continues to challenge Norris’s assumed position as the team’s lead driver.