Oscar Piastri Seizes Opportunity to Break Free from McLaren’s Team Orders, Setting Sights on Equal Status for 2025
Oscar Piastri may now have the ideal moment to solidify his position at McLaren, as the team’s 2024 season winds down and the possibility of equal footing with teammate Lando Norris in 2025 grows. After starting the year on par, McLaren’s championship strategy quickly shifted, favoring Norris as he emerged as the leading driver in their title pursuit. Piastri’s role, however, gradually turned into one of support, often deferring to Norris on track as the season progressed.
The balance initially tipped in Norris’s favor early in the season when he moved into second in the driver standings, behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, during the Spanish Grand Prix. This change left Piastri often shouldering the role of secondary driver, despite having shown great promise in his rookie season. Even as McLaren’s MCL38 improved its performance and came to be viewed as a genuine challenger, team orders required Piastri to yield on various occasions, most notably during the Hungarian Grand Prix. Here, Norris was given priority via an undercut strategy, and Piastri lost valuable points in a race where his competitive edge could have seen him finish higher.
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Piastri’s pole position in the sprint race seemed to mark a high point in his season, but once again, he was asked to cede his lead to Norris. Although McLaren’s strategy was intended to maximize their overall points, critics have argued that these decisions cost both drivers valuable podium opportunities and hindered Piastri’s own development as a fierce competitor. In races like Hungary and Italy, instances of relinquishing position allowed competitors like Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to capitalize on McLaren’s conservative strategies, leading to points losses that narrowed their gap in the constructor standings.
For Piastri, the current season has underscored the complexity of internal dynamics within an F1 team that’s aiming for a championship. The 23-year-old Australian has increasingly proven that he has the speed, adaptability, and confidence needed to vie for podiums independently. Heading into 2025, McLaren faces a critical decision: to either continue prioritizing Norris, who consistently ranks among Verstappen’s closest rivals, or allow Piastri to race on equal terms from the outset.
The McLaren team, led by principal Andrea Stella, has already acknowledged some key regrets from their season strategy, notably during the Austrian Grand Prix, where team orders may have missed a chance for a strong double podium finish. As McLaren analyzes its season, examining data to pinpoint strategic missteps and performance deficits, they have a significant opportunity to refine their approach and address potential weaknesses, whether related to pit wall decisions, driver hierarchy, or pace management.
Critics, including seasoned figures like Eddie Jordan, have remarked on Norris’s potential as a title challenger but emphasize the developmental gaps he must close to match Verstappen’s consistency under pressure. For McLaren, this offseason presents a chance to balance their driver strategy, reduce their reliance on rigid team orders, and foster a competitive environment where both drivers can thrive.
Piastri’s determination to avoid a “wingman” role in the upcoming season aligns with McLaren’s broader ambitions to clinch the constructors’ championship—a goal they narrowly missed this year. With Norris and Piastri’s combined talent, McLaren’s potential to challenge Red Bull and Ferrari more consistently in 2025 looks promising. However, to harness this potential fully, McLaren will need to evaluate the effectiveness of their in-race decisions, improve reliability, and refine pit strategies, allowing both drivers a fair shot at championship success.
As the countdown to the 2025 season begins, Oscar Piastri stands ready to assert his place as an equal force within McLaren, and fans await a compelling new chapter in the rivalry between him and Norris.
