The Woking squad had not been the team to beat on the Formula 1 grid since 1998 until last season. Norris and Piastri powered McLaren back to the top of the order but could not bring the drivers’ trophy home, as well. Red Bull star Max Verstappen won his fourth title in a row.
But Norris is the pre-season favourite for the 2025 F1 title, with many backing the Briton for success. The 25-year-old will not have a clean run, though, as Piastri has his eyes on the F1 title, too. Verstappen plus Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will also bid for glory.
Verstappen could also have an advantage in the F1 drivers’ championship with Red Bull clear that Liam Lawson is a No2.
The 23-year-old has replaced Sergio Perez as Verstappen’s aide, while both McLaren, Ferrari and even Mercedes drivers will want to lift trophies this season.
Piastri even acknowledges that McLaren having two title contenders is a ‘downside’ that can help Verstappen win his fifth successive title.
But it is a challenge he plans to make the team juggle as Piastri wants to avoid McLaren issuing team orders after becoming a No2 last term.
But while Piastri does not want McLaren to change their Papaya Rules and favour one driver over the other, Karun Chandhok feels team orders are inevitable.
The Sky Sports F1 pundit is also convinced McLaren will issue team orders sooner if Norris or Piastri prove they merit it.
He told the Mirror: “I think they’ll leave the drivers free to race at the start of the season, as they should. The drivers need to earn the right to have that support of the wider team.
“So, I think they’ll start off as equals. They’ll both have every opportunity to assert their authority in terms of being the No1 in the team.
“But I do think if there is a situation like last year – where they’re in a closer fight or they’re in a close fight with other teams and there’s a chance for one of the drivers to win the title more clearly than the other – then I think they might start to impose team orders earlier in the season to try and chase both titles.”
McLaren waited until before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in round 17 of the 24 staged last year to enforce team orders which favoured Norris during his title fight with Verstappen. Yet they would ultimately only have to ask Piastri to move out of his teammates’ way once after that.
Piastri handed Norris the Sprint win in Sao Paulo after snatching pole position with McLaren keen to take advantage of them running in first and second place.
But it proved irrelevant as Norris then failed to convert pole into a win as Verstappen took the Sao Paulo GP from P18.
Verstappen then sealing the 2024 title in Las Vegas saw Norris repay Piastri the Sprint win in Qatar.
It was always unlikely the Briton could dethrone the Dutchman after Verstappen built an early lead. But McLaren were left to ponder if they should have used team orders earlier.
McLaren used team orders for Piastri to win in Hungary after Norris unfairly gained the lead after pitting before the Australian.
But their reluctance to issue team orders for the drivers’ title saw Piastri overtake Norris at Monza and let Charles Leclerc split them before winning.
