McLaren must now be secretly buzzing with the controversial Oscar Piastri decision they made last season

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McLaren are in the strongest position that they have been in for nearly two decades in 2025, as they seek to secure a Formula 1 title double.

Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ championship and has quietly put to bed any doubts about his ability after just five rounds of the season.

McLaren are reaping the rewards for investing in youth and are now the favourite to secure both championships.

With the 2026 F1 regulations on the horizon, it would be a good idea for them to make use of their advantage while it lasts, as everything could change next year.

Being the leaders poses some unique challenges, with McLaren admitting Lando Norris could get upset if team orders no longer go his way.

That’ll be music to the ears of his teammate, with Piastri benefitting from a ‘hugely positive influence’ who has contributed to his upturn in form. He looks like the more complete driver currently.

READ MORE: McLaren see clear advantage that will ‘pay off’ for Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri in 2025 F1 title fight

Why McLaren must be thrilled with key Oscar Piastri decision

At the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, amid a title battle with Max Verstappen, Norris needed points, but wasn’t allowed through for a victory when his team could’ve used orders.

That win, which may have been crucial to boosting Piastri’s confidence, now looks like it was a great decision. He seems to be stronger than ever.

The Race’s Glenn Freeman agrees, and is unsure whether he would’ve burst out of the blocks so quickly in 2025 if he had been forced to move over at the Hungaroring.

“They let Piastri retake the win that he had been unlucky to lose the lead [of],” he said. “Everyone was saying, ‘those points were there for Norris, just give them to him!’

“I always thought that was the right decision, because it was so unlikely that Norris was going to catch Verstappen and the potential benefit you would get from Piastri winning that race.

“I think we’re seeing that now, I think if you take away from Piastri, he may have finished last year with his head down, down in the dumps, you don’t know how he comes into this year,” Freeman continued.

“You’ve just said he’s a robot, so it probably didn’t make any difference, but I suspect there will be some feeling within McLaren that they are reaping some of the benefit of not casting Piastri aside last year and they’re going look at him now – he’s flying.”

READ MORE: Oscar Piastri has told ‘people around him’ that he won’t make the same mistake as Lando Norris at McLaren

Why Lando Norris should bounce back in his McLaren fight with Oscar Piastri

The upcoming Miami Grand Prix marks nearly one year since Norris’ maiden Formula 1 victory, taken in a safety car-interrupted race.

It was the first time that fans and those in the paddock realised that he might actually be able to challenge for the title.

Now he gets to return to a track where McLaren should be strong, where he has a lot of confidence, and where he knows he can win.

The gap to Piastri stands at just 10 points, and all it takes is a little luck, and it could swing back completely in his favour.

Norris has been told he has to deprive Piastri of the championship lead, otherwise he risks letting him establish himself as the new team leader.