McLaren ‘tensions’ rise over what they are ‘no longer able to’ do for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

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Red Bull racer Max Verstappen’s revived F1 drivers’ title bid is undermining McLaren’s confidence, but he is not the only reason why tensions are now on the rise in Woking.

Verstappen’s hopes of winning a fifth drivers’ title in as many seasons seemed over after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, as the 28-year-old left his home race facing a 104-point deficit to Oscar Piastri. But, a mere four rounds later, the Red Bull ace is only 40 points off the lead.

Even Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko feared Verstappen’s 2025 title hopes were over following the Dutch GP. Yet Red Bull’s recent floor and front wing updates have helped the Dutchman claw his way back into contention with wins in Italy, Azerbaijan and the USA.

Verstappen won the COTA Sprint and United States GP last week, as well, to get firmly back in the fight. Piastri crashing into Lando Norris in the COTA Sprint, plus his race-ending crash in Azerbaijan, helped to see him pen just 37 points to Verstappen’s 101 since the Dutch GP.

McLaren’s inability to improve Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri’s pace is causing ‘tensions’

Norris has also only earned 57 points since he retired from P2 in the Dutch GP, which denied the Briton 18 points that would put him above Piastri atop the F1 drivers’ standings with five Grands Prix and two F1 Sprints remaining. Instead, Norris currently trails Piastri by 14 points.

READ MORE: Every error that cost Lando Norris points in his failed 2024 F1 title challenge

And Gazzetta dello Sport reports that ‘tensions are beginning to rise’ at McLaren now, as the Woking outfit are ‘no longer able to’ improve the pace of the MCL39 over a race weekend for Piastri and Norris to beat Verstappen. Red Bull’s RB21 is also now a match for McLaren’s car.

While the McLaren MCL39 excels on medium-speed, long-distance corners, so it should still be quick in Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the Red Bull RB21 now lets Verstappen perform on a wider variety of circuits than those that mainly feature low-speed corners or long straights.

So, the United States GP also served as a ‘wake-up call’ for McLaren, as they let a chance to challenge Verstappen go to waste. Piastri tangling with Norris at the start of the COTA Sprint denied McLaren crucial data, which then caused compromises with their Grand Prix set-ups.

Now, while McLaren have already won the 2025 F1 constructors’ title, Verstappen’s revived drivers’ title hopes are ‘undermining’ the confidence and serenity that the team built in the first 15 rounds of this year’s 24 that Piastri or Norris could win their maiden titles this term.

Max Verstappen will expect to outscore Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Mexico City

McLaren won the 2025 constructors’ title at the Singapore GP, to match the record that Red Bull set only in 2023 by winning the championship with six rounds spare. Yet while Norris or Piastri has led the F1 drivers’ championship since round one of 24, the title is not in the bag.

For some, Verstappen is now the favourite to win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title, too, given he has outscored Piastri and Norris in each of the last four rounds. Red Bull’s floor update at Monza and front wing upgrade in Singapore might make McLaren regret focusing on the 2026 rules.

The RB21’s straight-line speed advantage will even make Verstappen the favourite to win the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is already one of Verstappen’s favourite circuits with five Grand Prix wins, matched only by the Red Bull Ring.