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McLaren blocked Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from talking about one topic at the British Grand Prix

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella will be well aware that nothing is decided at the halfway stage of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

After the British Grand Prix, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are separated by just eight points in the drivers’ championship.

However, that doesn’t do justice to just how dominant McLaren have been this season.

Max Verstappen is the closest challenger to both of their drivers, but sits 69 points behind Piastri.

The constructors’ championship is even more impressive, with McLaren 236 points ahead of Ferrari, which is more than double their current tally.

Position Drivers' Championship Points
1

Oscar Piastri

234
2

Lando Norris

226
3

Max Verstappen

165
4

George Russell

147
5

Charles Leclerc

119
6

Lewis Hamilton

103
7

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

63
8

Alexander Albon

46
9

Nico Hulkenberg

37
10

Esteban Ocon

23

Adrian Newey has been spotted studying McLaren’s car, which should tell you all you need to know about the innovations they’ve discovered over the past two years.

Red Bull believe Rob Marshall’s exit was even more important than Newey’s, and it’s no surprise that the work he’s done behind the scenes at McLaren has turned them into the dominant force in Formula 1.

McLaren are set to allow their drivers to battle against each other to determine the winner of the drivers’ championship, so long as Verstappen or George Russell don’t make a sudden charge.

However, they’re still carefully managing their partnership behind the scenes and in the media.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Oscar Piastri congratulates Lando Norris.
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

McLaren stopped questions about Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s rivalry at the British Grand Prix

Legendary England cricketer Stuart Broad was asked on the For The Love of Cricket Podcast about the interview he took part in with Norris and Piastri, and whether he played on the England vs Australia rivalry, with The Ashes coming up later in the year.

He explained: “A bit of that. But then, actually, leading into the interview, they didn’t want England vs Australia necessarily talked about because they’re teammates, they don’t want to be seen as rivals, etc.

“So, I knew I had about four, four and a half minutes, and I was quite nervous, to be honest, as you would be, given a microphone. OK, you got four, four and a half minutes with two of the top world championship drivers in Formula 1.

CategoryLando NorrisOscar Piastri
2025 points423410
Grand Prix results1310
Grand Prix qualifying1311
Grand Prix wins77
Grand Prix poles76
Grand Prix podiums1816
Best finish1st1st
Retirements21
Disqualifications11
Fastest laps66
Grand Prix points finishes2122
Sprint results23
Sprint Qualifying24
Sprint wins21
Sprint poles12
Sprint podiums44
Sprint retirements12
The 2025 F1 teammate head-to-head battle of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

“Walk and talk, try and link it to cricket if you can, because we’re going to show it on the cricket channel.

“But don’t mention England, Australia. So it’s like, oh, OK.

“They were brilliant. Honestly, they were really cool. I think when you meet sportspeople who are still playing and you enjoy their time, you just want them to do really well, don’t you?

“So, I was delighted that they both drove well on Sunday.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Zak Brown happy to let Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race this season

Although Norris and Piastri have won nine of the first 12 Grand Prix, they’ve not gone head-to-head on track that often.

Piastri was told to hold station at the Australian Grand Prix before making an uncharacteristic error during torrential conditions.

The pair both failed to get past Verstappen at Suzuka, but up until the Canadian Grand Prix, they had largely run their own races.

Norris made an error crashing into the back of Piastri in Montreal, before the Brit got the better of his teammate to win at the Red Bull Ring.

Brown has told Norris and Piastri ‘may the best man win’ when asked if team orders will play a part in the championship battle.

As long as the constructors’ championship is wrapped up, McLaren could be about to orchestrate one of the best title battles in recent memory, even if they don’t want their rivalry publicly discussed right now.