Formula One: A Look into the Championship Race

Emily Olcott

Staff Writer

As the 2025 Formula One season moves quickly by, McLaren find themselves in an interesting position, as frontrunners in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship. Oscar Piastri currently holds a steady lead ahead of teammate Lando Norris in what is becoming a closely watched spectacle in the sport. But this type of success comes with its own risks, between rivalry, difficult decisions, and the challenges of maintaining relationships in the height of the title race.

McLaren’s revival has been built on strong car performance, strategical tactics, and two young drivers who can make the most of their races. Piastri currently leads the Drivers’ standings, with a gap that is slowly shrinking between him and Norris. For now, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is still not out of contention, threatening to take the lead at any given moment.

From the midpoint of last year, McLaren continues to make it clear that there is no clear and decided ‘top driver.’  Simultaneously, McLaren mechanics implemented “Papaya Rules,” that ensure both drivers can race hard without risking collision or unnecessary situations, ensuring the team’s goals of bringing home gold are not compromised.

Still, tensions continue to rise throughout the season, between both the team and fans, knowing one of the drivers is likely to take the gold. The Canadian Grand Prix was subject to a costly collision between the two, as Norris misjudged a move forcing his own DNF. Luckily, Norris was able to apologize, and the team was quick to move on and look forward. This serves as a reminder that keeping both drivers satisfied in their positions can be difficult, as it relies on not only performance, but also trust, communication, and fairness. Both CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella have made it clear that there will be times when one driver feels they are less at an advantage than the other, and they must deal with it situationally.

The relationship between Piastri and Norris seems to be professional and respectful. Norris has admitted that dynamics are bound to change, but situations like the crash at the Canadian Grand Prix, have been said to make the relationship and McLaren’s foundation stronger.

McLaren’s biggest challenge is now not just building a car that is capable of winning but also managing two ambitious drivers and one team goal. If handled well, McLaren can end the season with not just trophies but also with a positive reputation and strong foundation as a community moving into future seasons. If done wrong, they may face unrecoverable damage. The rest of the season proves to be an exciting watch that will test both their cars and their ability to grow together as a team.