Lando Norris Warns of McLaren’s ‘Downward Spiral’ Risk Amid Fierce Title Fight With O… read more
Lando Norris has issued a sobering warning to McLaren amid the intense battle with teammate Oscar Piastri for the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, pointing to the potential for internal rivalry to lead the team into a “downward spiral” if not properly managed. McLaren entered the 2025 season as genuine title contenders, thanks to major car upgrades and strong development that saw them close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes. However, Norris now fears that the competitiveness within the team may become counterproductive if unity and strategy fall apart.
The British driver, who took his maiden F1 victory earlier in the season, currently finds himself locked in a close points battle with Piastri, whose consistency and aggressive driving have positioned him as one of the breakout stars of the year. While McLaren has benefitted from having two highly competitive drivers capable of securing podiums and wins, Norris believes the internal fight could easily turn into a liability if not handled with care by the team leadership.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Norris admitted that while he is proud of McLaren’s transformation into a front-running team, he is “acutely aware” of how fast things can unravel in a high-pressure environment where both drivers are fighting for the top prize. “We’re both pushing to the limit every weekend,” Norris said. “Oscar is doing a great job, and I respect him as a teammate, but we also know how easy it is for things to turn sour when both drivers are fighting for the same thing. If we’re not careful, it could send the team into a downward spiral.”
The comments come just weeks after a controversial clash between Norris and Piastri at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Norris ran into the back of Piastri during a chaotic restart. Although both drivers downplayed the incident publicly, behind-the-scenes tension has reportedly increased, with some insiders suggesting a power struggle could be brewing as the team tries to balance its championship ambitions with maintaining harmony between its drivers.
Team principal Andrea Stella has so far managed to keep both drivers focused and united under a common goal, frequently stressing that McLaren’s success hinges on collaboration as much as competition. Still, the reality of a title fight—especially one that could come down to the final races—has inevitably added strain. The last time McLaren found itself in such a position was over a decade ago, and the current leadership is facing one of its toughest challenges yet: managing success without internal combustion.
Norris emphasized that it is critical for McLaren to keep its long-term vision intact. “What we don’t want is a repeat of situations we’ve seen in the past at other teams—where infighting costs both drivers the championship,” he said, likely referencing infamous intra-team rivalries such as Hamilton vs. Rosberg at Mercedes or Vettel vs. Webber at Red Bull. “That’s how teams lose titles, not win them. We’ve got to make sure we’re thinking big picture.”
Despite the warning, Norris made it clear he has no intention of backing down in the title race. “Of course I want to win. That’s why I’m here. But I want to do it in a way that helps the team too. That’s the only way we’re all going to come out on top in the end.”
With the season entering its second half and the margins between the top drivers narrowing every weekend, the pressure is mounting not only on Norris and Piastri but on McLaren as a whole. Whether the team can harness the intensity of its driver rivalry as a force for good—or fall victim to the same traps that have undone contenders in the past—remains one of the biggest storylines of the 2025 F1 season.
