Norris vs Piastri: McLaren 'civil war' amid Verstappen challenge

Last season, McLaren broke their decades-long dry spell by clinching their first Constructors’ Championship of the century. However, critics argued the team and Piastri failed to fully back Norris in his title battle with Verstappen, with some questionable “Papaya Rules” undermining their bid.

This year, armed with the formidable MCL39 — an evolution of the MCL38 that dominated the season finale in Abu Dhabi — McLaren aims to secure not just team glory but also the F1 Drivers’ Championship. However, Piastri, backed by former F1 driver and manager Mark Webber, poses a significant threat to Norris's position as the team's leader.

Former F1 driver and pundit Johnny Herbert weighed in on the Norris-Piastri dynamic, highlighting Piastri’s steely determination: “Oscar Piastri is the interesting one just because of his character. His character seems to be, ‘I don’t give a damn, I will do what I need to do to win that race.’

“Last year’s strategy issues are gone. With a fresh start, I think he’s going to come out wanting to dominate and ensure he’s seen as McLaren’s number-one driver. That will be his number one goal,” Herbert added.

Herbert pointed to Webber’s experience navigating similar tensions during his own career: “Mark Webber knows what it’s like to be in a team with a strong teammate like Sebastian Vettel. He knows you need that edge — that little bit of arrogance that drivers like Michael Schumacher, Mika Häkkinen, and Max Verstappen have. You’ve got to ruffle feathers and take control to ensure the team backs you.”

Herbert was equally impressed with Norris’s progression, particularly in the latter stages of 2024. He added: “Lando finished the season so strong.

"His qualifying pace and racecraft were outstanding. But this year, it’s a double mental battle — against Verstappen on track and against Piastri in his own garage.

“Norris showed resilience when Daniel Ricciardo joined McLaren. Back then, everyone expected Ricciardo to lead the team, but Lando stepped up and dominated that partnership. He needs to do the same again, only this time with Piastri, who doesn’t seem to get ruffled by external pressures," the Briton explained.

Herbert warned that Verstappen’s mental dominance is another challenge Norris must overcome: “Max has this way of getting inside people’s heads on track. Lando needs to find a way to counter that, not necessarily by imitating him, but by being just as mentally tough. The rule changes for 2025 — removing apex and exit corner allowances — might bring raw racing back, which could work in Verstappen’s favour.”

Managing the internal battle between Norris and Piastri will be a delicate task for McLaren bosses Zak Brown and Andrea Stella.

Herbert believes the team should let the rivalry play out naturally and said: “At the start of the season, McLaren shouldn’t dictate results in races like Australia or China. Let them fight it out and see who emerges as the leader. If they pick sides too early, it could cause unnecessary friction.”

Herbert concluded by drawing comparisons to his own experiences with Michael Schumacher: “Schumacher made sure he was the dominant force even before the first race of the season. That’s what Max does, and it’s what both Norris and Piastri need to learn. It’s all about mental strength. That will decide who comes out on top at McLaren and in the championship battle.”

With McLaren expected to deliver one of the strongest cars on the grid, the question remains: can Norris fend off both Piastri and Verstappen to claim his maiden Drivers’ Championship, or will Piastri’s rise disrupt the team’s ambitions? Only time will tell.