In a Formula 1 season that’s been all about papaya power, McLaren’s unstoppable form has given rise to a thrilling and tense subplot: a world championship duel between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
But while many expect fireworks between the two title contenders – and they may still come, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella insists there’s no friction in the garage, just mutual respect and an ever-improving relationship between the two drivers.
With only 16 points separating championship leader Piastri from Norris, and McLaren more than 268 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings, the team has emerged as the dominant force of 2025. Title tension? Sure. Internal turmoil? Not even close.
“If anything, the relationship between Oscar and Lando keeps improving,” Stella said Friday in Budapest ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
“This is not the effect of a random evolution. This is because we invest in relationships. When I refer to fundamentals of Formula 1, relationships are probably slightly less tangible, but I think they are as fundamental as aerodynamics.
“This involves the relationship between drivers and the team and between the drivers themselves."
Two-Horse Race, One United Team
Last year’s Hungarian GP marked a turning point, Stella revealed, as the team deliberately laid the groundwork for a respectful rivalry between its two stars.
“If I take the race we had last year in Hungary, we spent quite a lot of time reviewing that individually with the drivers and together,” the Italian explained.
“We tried to learn from each other as much as possible. We reminded ourselves that Formula 1 is difficult, and we are always going to face some difficulties. This is an awareness we need to have.
“From there, what can we do to improve? What can we do as a team to make sure we have a framework that allows Lando and Oscar to pursue their aspirations, always protecting the interests of the team.”
That framework appears to be working wonders. Even when Norris collided with Piastri in Canada, the incident was handled with grace and maturity – Norris owned the mistake, Piastri moved on, and the points kept rolling in.
And Stella is clearly proud of the professionalism on display.
“Once again, I’m a lucky team principal because the two drivers are very reasonable, very fair, very correct, humble, and above all, they understand that we are here not only to pursue our interest in the present but also to protect the future of their own careers and of McLaren Racing,” he added.
Pressure Mounting, Framework Holding
With the second half of the season now well underway and eleven races left to decide the title, the intensity is only set to increase. But Stella believes the structure McLaren and its drivers have built will help them weather the storm.
“I think there may be a natural increase of what could be a sense of pressure because the races reduce in number and every race will become, relatively, slightly more important,” he admitted.
©McLaren
Still, he’s betting on the Norris - Piastri dynamic holding firm all the way to Abu Dhabi.
“But from the point of view of the team principal and the team, our two drivers and the team have sustained this quest to the championships in a very solid way,” Stella said.
“Over time, reviewing this race by race, we have created a solid racing approach, an approach to which Lando and Oscar have definitely contributed.
“It’s not like the team created this racing approach and now Lando and Oscar follow it—we have put it together as a team including drivers.
“So, I think this is a very robust framework, and this will be more and more important as the marginal value of every race increases as we get closer to the end of the season.”
The world championship may only have room for one winner, but at McLaren, it seems both drivers are racing on the same page. For now.
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