McLaren have emerged as the team to beat in the 2025 Formula 1 season, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked in a thrilling duel.
As the season resumes after the summer break, Norris trails Piastri by just nine points, having clawed back momentum with a string of standout performances.
Norris has claimed victories in three of the last four races and four of the last seven since Monaco, complemented by two second-place finishes. This surge follows a challenging start to the year, where Norris struggled with the handling of McLaren’s MCL39 car.
A pivotal moment came in Canada, where a minor front suspension upgrade improved his confidence, enabling him to challenge Piastri more consistently.
However, that same Canadian Grand Prix saw a costly collision between the teammates, marking Norris’s only non-score in this impressive run.
Reflecting on his progress, Norris highlighted his ability to recover from setbacks as a key factor in his title charge. “There are always different situations, different moments along the way,” he said to media.
“As a driver, I feel better than I was last year, but the car handles quite differently. I’ve had to adapt to that and do a better job to get back to being as quick as I need to be, which I feel I’ve done. My ability to improve on worst moments has grown, whether it’s struggles during a weekend or even a single session.”
Early in the season, qualifying errors in Bahrain and a crash in Saudi Arabia cost Norris valuable grid positions. Yet, he has since demonstrated resilience, learning from these mistakes to deliver consistent results.
Piastri, meanwhile, started the year strongly, securing victories in five of the first nine races, but Norris’s recent form has tightened the championship battle.
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, has praised both drivers for their maturity, emphasizing their commitment to fair racing despite the intense rivalry.
“We’ve worked hard to give Lando and Oscar a car capable of fighting for the championship,” Stella said. “We see this as an opportunity, not a problem, and we’ll continue to ensure they have equal opportunities.”
As the season heads to the Dutch Grand Prix on August 31, at the 4.259-kilometer Zandvoort circuit, McLaren aim to maintain their dominance. With 72 laps of high-speed action awaiting, the team’s papaya-colored machines are set to shine, and Norris is determined to close the gap to Piastri.
The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as McLaren chase a historic drivers’ and constructors’ title double.
