After a good start to the season 2025, McLaren is the big favorite on both World Cup titles in Formula 1. In the driver’s ranking in particular, the question arises in view of Lando Norris’ frequent mistakes, whether the British racing team should not better set all cards on Oscar Piatri. A commentary analysis:
For fans of Lando Norris, the previous Formula 1 season is in a way tragic. Since he was promoted to the premier class, he has repeatedly shown outstanding performance – only the McLaren was never good enough for the places at the forefront. Until now!
At the latest since the middle of last season, the British team has the fastest vehicle in the field – it should finally be something with the long -awaited title? Think! The 2025 season is undoubtedly the weakest season of Norris, measured by the number of errors.
Negative highlight: the dropout in Canada, in which he, with luck he did not also not rip out his teammate Oscar Piatri. Before that, quiet voices were very clear afterwards: McLaren should put his money on Piatri – a stable order is now necessary.
And in fact, many reasons speak for this:
Norris error rate – the British in Canada was only symptomatic behind Piatri because the day before he missed both rounds in the decisive Q3 and therefore only got into the race from seven.
Piatris frightening cool consistency – the Australian landed, enclosed sprints, in front of which Canada GP on the podium ten times in a row and did not get a mistake.
And actually also your own story from the previous year: in 2024 Max Verstappen dominated the first half of the season in the Red Bull. Seven victories from the first ten Grand Prix. Then the sheet turned. The Red Bull became a diva, Verstappen came into difficult situations more and more.
On the other hand, McLaren worked to the top of the starting line -up through sparkling updates. And until Verstappen’s master class in the rain of Sao Paolo, it even looked as if Norris could still intercept the Dutch in the driver’s ranking.
The Formula 1 season is still long
There are other examples for the fact that the pendulum can be strolled heavily in the course of a season: in 2009, for example, when Brawn drove everything on the ground with the double eiffusor, but in the second half of the season there was no stab against Red Bull and a young Sebastian Vettel at the time. Brawn only became world champion because of the great advantage from the first races.
Who says McLaren 2025 cannot happen? – And if in the end a title is gone and only because Norris and Piatri have taken points away from each other, then you are pretty stupid in Woking.
So full strength ahead towards the stable order? – Well that the season is so long, can just as well be used as a counter -argument.
It has not even driven half of the races and the gap from Norris to Piatri is a miserable 22 points. Suppose Piatri flies the engine around the ears at the upcoming Grand Prix in Austria and Norris wins the race on the Red Bull Ring, then the Brit is suddenly again in the front of the driver’s ranking.
Anyone who then argued for the team order Pro Piatri would be there with down pants.
Video: F1 experts illuminate “Norris’ zero number”
In view of the colorful Formula 1 history, the next race will take place in Austria. Stall orders and Austria – wasn’t that what?
Ferrari stable order caused a shake of the head and anger
Exactly! “Rubens – Let Michael Pass for the Championship” – when was that again? 2001? Or 2002?
Resolution: It was in both years. Formula 1 fans saw for two years in a row, as Ferrari took to the stable order in the first third of the season and exchanged the places between Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello in the last round. This did not cause enthusiasm – precisely because in both cases there was no need for intervention at all. Ferrari was inviolable for the rest of the field in both years.
How should McLaren team boss Andrea Stella and Co. decide at the command stand? The high Norris error rate speaks for a stable order, but in the end the bare numbers count. And even before the season half of the season, it would be premature to intervene between the two drivers.
On the one hand because, due to one or two unfortunate Piatri failures, you would have to rely on Norris. On the other hand, because it would prove a lack of trust in your own employees. Anyone who is already using the stable order assumes that you lose the top position.
The question of the stable order should initially disappear in the drawer. You can get them out again early enough.