Top Red Bull engineer ‘far less complimentary’ towards one McLaren driver when racing Max Verstappen

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McLaren looked set to see Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris fight between themselves to win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title, but Red Bull ace Max Verstappen has re-joined the fight.

The papaya pals have led the way in the F1 drivers’ championship since the start of the year, and they are still the favourites. But Verstappen outscored both Piastri and Norris in each of the past three rounds, as the four-time defending champion looks to retain the crown again.

Norris became the first driver to demote Verstappen from the top of the standings for 1,029 days when the Briton won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this March. Yet he only led for 35 days, as Piastri seized the lead after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April.

Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko felt Verstappen’s 2025 F1 title bid was over after he fell to a 104-point deficit to Piastri after August’s Dutch Grand Prix, too. Yet taking wins in Italy and Azerbaijan plus P2 in Singapore reduced Verstappen’s deficit to Piastri to 63 points.

Red Bull accept Oscar Piastri will overtake Max Verstappen but do not fear Lando Norris

A leading Red Bull engineer has also seen a big difference between Piastri and Norris when they are racing against Verstappen this term. While Piastri strikes fear in Red Bull when the Australian is behind their Dutchman, the Milton Keynes outfit are less concerned by Norris.

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

That is according to Luis Vasconcelos, who has spoken to an unnamed engineer who claims Red Bull have come to accept that Verstappen will get overtaken when Piastri eyes a move. The engineer also established his view before Norris hit Piastri in the Singapore Grand Prix.

Vasconcelos shared in Auto Action: “One of Red Bull’s leading engineers told me recently, ‘Once Oscar gets behind Max and is faster, we know he’s going to pass. He may spend two or three laps following Max, but once he makes his move, it’s done, no contest’.

“I won’t reveal exactly what the same engineer said about Norris’ wheel-to-wheel abilities, but let’s say he was far less complimentary towards the English driver, and that was before the Singapore Grand Prix start bowling attempt.”

Oscar Piastri has got the better of Max Verstappen more easily than Lando Norris in 2025

Norris banged wheels with Piastri at the start of the Singapore GP after needing to turn out into his McLaren teammate at Turn 3, having even tapped the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull first. The papaya stars both left it as late as possible to brake for T3 to secure track position.

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

Piastri ultimately had no response to Norris’ pace thereafter, as they finished P3 and P4 at Marina Bay. But Norris also did not find the pace he needed to shape a pass on Verstappen, despite spending the majority of the Singapore GP hanging onto the 28-year-old’s gearbox.

It was a similar story at Suzuka back in April when Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix by 1.423s to Norris, who spent the race following the Dutchman. Verstappen beat Norris to win the Italian Grand Prix in September after a brief fight with the Briton at Monza, as well.

In contrast, Piastri won the Miami Grand Prix after overtaking Verstappen this May, whereas Norris had to settle for second place as he struggled to get past the Red Bull driver as easily in Florida. Piastri even got the better of Verstappen as he won the Saudi Arabian GP in April.

Piastri won the Saudi Arabian GP after Verstappen’s five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, having shortcut the Turn 1-2 run-off area to remain in front at the start. Piastri had fairly won the corner at T1 and got the lead thanks to Verstappen’s penalty.