Mika Hakkinen issues verdict on how Zak Brown has handled Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren

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How McLaren have handled the 2025 title fight between drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri has become a contentious issue this season.

The Woking outfit had a clear advantage over their rivals in pre-season, with many believing Norris would be the favourite for the title. He fought Max Verstappen in the second half of 2024 and ultimately missed out, but he has faced a different rival in 2025.

Perhaps to the surprise of many, Piastri has found another gear this season, winning seven races thus far. The Aussie leads the championship over Norris by 22 points with six races to go, but McLaren have caused major controversy over team orders.

McLaren favoured Norris over Piastri at Monza after he received a slow pit stop, forcing the latter to hand P2 back to him. Piastri expects ‘payback’ from McLaren for their controversial decision, but when that opportunity came in Singapore, he did not get it.

Norris collided with Piastri after he hit the back of Verstappen on the opening lap. The championship leader was furious as he asked for the positions to be swapped, but the team did not intervene, nor did the stewards.

Mika Hakkinen says Zak Brown is doing a ‘great job’ with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren

Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Norris is the ‘favourite’ at McLaren, a common thought among many in the paddock as the Brit has cut his teammate’s lead down to 22 points.

McLaren will let Norris and Piastri fight in the final six races, having already wrapped up the constructors’ title. But the friction between the drivers is clear to see, with many questioning if Zak Brown and Andrea Stella have handled the title fight fairly.

Piastri is applying pressure on McLaren to give him equal treatment with Norris, with reports emerging that he is considering his future in Woking. Piastri is already being linked with Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc is also assessing his options for 2027.

Despite the growing ‘strain’ between Norris and Piastri, two-time F1 champion Mika Hakkinen thinks Brown is doing a ‘great job’ with his drivers at McLaren.

Speaking via La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Finn thinks his former team, with whom he won the title in 1998 and 1999, are a prime example of an outfit at their peak in the modern era: “The team has made great progress by putting together everything it needs.

“And what’s needed today is different, more complex than what was sufficient in my day. It requires much more communication.

“That’s why I think Zak Brown is doing a great job. And it’s not easy with two very young drivers, even though Lando now has a lot of experience. McLaren represents a good idea of ​​how F1 is at its peak these days.”

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

Mika Hakkinen clashed with McLaren teammate David Coulthard while fighting for the title

Hakkinen is no stranger to clashing with teammates. Ironically, at McLaren, he had a tense relationship with teammate David Coulthard after he joined the team from Williams in 1996.

Had the Scotsman stayed at Williams, he would have had a title-winning car, as Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve won in 1996 and 1997 respectively. By the time he got accustomed to the McLaren machine, Hakkinen had established an advantage.

Coulthard regretted letting Hakkinen ‘manipulate’ him as his teammate as the Finn beat him to the title in 1998 and 1999. Their relationship during their careers was tense, as Coulthard and Hakkinen could not stand each other due to their desire to win.

Norris and Piastri now face a similar situation in 2025 as they battle to become McLaren’s first champion since 2007. Brown must ensure that things do not get ugly between the pair if he wants to keep his line-up intact, with Piastri starting to consider other options.