Why McLaren is willing to “risk” open Norris vs Piastri F1 title fight

The latest battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Hungary shows McLaren isn’t going to play it safe in the Formula 1 title race.

After losing ground at the start, Norris was given the freedom to go onto an ambitious one-stop strategy, which turned out to be the race-winning move. One week prior, the roles were reversed in Spa when Norris’ decision to go onto a harder tyre compound didn’t pay off. 

But the underlying message to both sides of the McLaren garage is clear: take whatever strategy you think is best. Not to guarantee an easy 1-2 victory, but to win the race. 

It is an approach that is inherently risky and that may well cost it results in the future. In a previous iteration, McLaren learned this the hard way when Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton went toe to toe in 2007, and their acrimonious fight spilled over and left the door open for Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen to swoop in and snatch the world championship. 

Some will argue McLaren has it easy, and that its car is so much better and more consistent than the competition – with the status of second-best team changing week to week – that the papaya squad can afford the luxury of its drivers racing each other hard. 

“We know the risk of not throwing our weight behind one driver, but we will give Oscar and Lando equal opportunity to fight it out on track to win the drivers’ world championship,” Zak Brown said. “That’s exciting for us, and for the sport.” 

But letting its drivers race isn’t just being done as a ploy to garner positive PR or for the good of the series. There are also internal reasons why it will benefit McLaren in the long run, as having two equal number ones will prevent either Norris or Piastri from growing disillusioned with their opportunities at the team. 

They know that in December, the best man will take home a maiden world title, and that the score is reset to zero again next March.

“We believe the benefits of racing this way far outweigh the consequences – despite the fact we know incidents can happen,” Brown added.  

Team principal Andrea Stella echoed Brown’s sentiments, warning that McLaren’s approach didn’t “make my life or Zak’s life any simpler”.  

“We are also racing in a certain way, which is open and gives our drivers the opportunity to express their talents, their aspirations, their quality, their constant development,” Stella said. 

“That’s what we are here for, and we are very privileged to be in this position. Not only with the team we have, but with Oscar and Lando, who are two great drivers, but above all, two great individuals.” 

McLaren is “not naive” about further incidents 

That approach only works when you have two drivers that fit the mould. In Norris and Piastri, McLaren has two drivers who have thus far played the team game. That didn’t happen from day one, as both drivers grew into the role of a regular race winner and title protagonist. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

There was some petulance when Norris was asked to let Piastri retake the lead in Hungary last year, having only been put in that position by an earlier pitstop on the understanding that he would let the Australian by. And McLaren’s rules of engagement – the so-called ‘papaya rules’ – were clarified when Piastri made a risky lunge on Norris at Turn 3 in Monza that saw his team-mate lose a position to Charles Leclerc.  

However, other than a clumsy accident in Canada, which Norris was to blame for, both drivers have proven they can be trusted, and this is why the team has not felt the need to become heavy-handed. That’s also why Brown feels he has the right two drivers to avoid any repeat of 2007. 

“When it comes to fighting for a world title between team-mates, everyone has a different perspective – and some people can be critical – so it’s important for me to clarify a few things. Firstly, I’ve said it before, but I truly believe we have the best driver line-up in Formula 1, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other. 

“Secondly, when you have two drivers going head to head for the world championship, there’s naturally a lot of excitement – and we share that excitement. There’s nothing we like more than watching these guys battle it out. So may the best man win.” 

The fact that Norris’ misjudgement in Montreal is the only intra-team incident thus far is laudable. But with 10 grands prix left to run and only nine points separating the two, the hard part for McLaren hasn’t even started yet. The real test of the Woking team’s culture is yet to follow, as the title battle goes down to the wire. 

Brown is prepared for more friendly fire, but says the way Norris owned up to his Canada mistake is leaving him optimistic that further incidents won’t bring the house that he and Stella built crumbling down. 

“I’m not naive,” said Brown. “The adrenaline and pressure will rise, but the team will continue to work in harmony and manage the situations as they come. 

“Of course, we recognise that incidents have happened and will happen again. It’s all about how well you’re prepared for those moments and how you deal with them. I think Montreal was a shining example of how well everyone handled the situation.”