Max Verstappen Slams McLaren’s Driver Management Amid Norris–Piastri Tension
Max Verstappen has given a candid verdict on McLaren’s handling of its two star drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as the championship battle intensifies heading into the final stretch of the 2025 F1 season. The Dutchman, who has surged back into contention for the title, believes McLaren’s driver management strategy has created “unhappy faces” within the team — and may even cost them dearly as pressure mounts.
Throughout the season, McLaren’s dynamic duo has been locked in a tense intra-team rivalry, both chasing their first-ever Formula 1 world championship. The papaya-clad team has dominated much of the year, with Norris and Piastri often finishing first and second in races. But the harmony within the garage has been increasingly strained by strategic calls, pit orders, and perceived favoritism.
Verstappen, who has watched the drama unfold from a resurgent Red Bull garage, has not held back in sharing his thoughts. According to the three-time champion, McLaren’s attempt to micromanage the relationship between its drivers is backfiring spectacularly. “You can’t make everyone happy,” Verstappen said. “When you try to control things too much, you just end up with unhappy faces on both sides.”
The tension within McLaren first boiled over during the Italian Grand Prix, when the team controversially ordered Piastri to let Norris through midway through the race. Many fans and pundits slammed the call, accusing McLaren of favoring the British driver, who is seen by many as the face of the team. While McLaren defended the decision as a tactical move to secure maximum points, the fallout was intense, with social media ablaze over alleged bias against Piastri.
The controversy deepened again at the Singapore Grand Prix, where McLaren chose not to intervene as their drivers battled aggressively on track. That decision — essentially the opposite of Italy’s — was also criticized, with many claiming the team lacked consistency in its approach. The perception now is that McLaren is walking a tightrope: intervening brings accusations of favoritism, but staying out of the fight risks an on-track clash that could destroy both drivers’ races.
Verstappen believes the team’s indecision could have lasting consequences. “When you start over-managing things, it’s a sign of pressure,” he noted. “If the team can’t handle two competitive drivers without creating tension, then it’s not good for anyone — not the drivers, not the engineers, and definitely not the results.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull has quietly been clawing its way back into contention. After struggling early in the season against McLaren’s superior pace, upgrades to the RB21 have reignited Verstappen’s title hopes. With six races and three sprint events remaining, the Dutchman sits 63 points behind Piastri — a gap that is challenging but not impossible to overcome, especially given his past record of late-season dominance.
Red Bull’s approach to team management stands in stark contrast to McLaren’s. Over the past few years, Verstappen has enjoyed the full backing of the Milton Keynes-based outfit, which has built its operations around him. That laser-like focus has delivered four consecutive drivers’ titles and established Red Bull as a model of internal unity — even during turbulent moments.
For Verstappen, this is precisely why he doubts that any team can ever maintain perfect equality between its drivers. “There’s always one driver who gets a little more attention, whether people admit it or not,” he explained. “That’s how it is in this sport. When you have two drivers fighting for the same goal, it’s almost impossible to keep everything fair and balanced.”
As the championship battle heats up, McLaren faces a crucial test of leadership. Both Norris and Piastri are immensely talented, both are hungry for glory, and both know that any wrong call could decide the title. Verstappen’s warning is clear: if McLaren continues down its current path, it may not just lose harmony within the team — it could lose the championship altogether.
For now, all eyes turn to the next round, where McLaren must strike the perfect balance between team orders and driver freedom — or risk watching Red Bull and Verstappen snatch the crown from their grasp.
