McLaren has seen an incredible resurgence this season after what could only be described as a lackluster start. Early on, they struggled to find pace, but each upgrade they brought to the car has proven effective, making McLaren one of the fastest teams on the grid. Since the Chinese Grand Prix back in April, the team has been a regular feature on the podium, and their car has been a consistent front-runner ever since. Both drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, have claimed their maiden F1 wins this season—Lando in Miami and Oscar in Hungary. However, despite having the speed and potential, McLaren has just three wins compared to Red Bull's seven. So what's holding them back?
From a performance standpoint, McLaren is undoubtedly one of the strongest teams on the grid. Their car has consistently been one of the quickest since their breakthrough, and on several occasions, it has even matched Red Bull in terms of outright pace. Despite this, something critical is missing: the ability to capitalize fully on their opportunities.
While McLaren has been fast, their struggles come down to race execution, strategic decision-making, and internal team dynamics. The car itself is quick enough to fight for wins, but poor race management and occasional miscommunication between drivers have resulted in missed opportunities. Let's take a closer look at how these issues have manifested over the season.
One of the major challenges for McLaren this season has been managing its two talented drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. While Lando, the more experienced driver, has shown more consistency, particularly in the early part of the season when the car wasn't as competitive, Oscar has demonstrated raw pace and an ability to fight at the front as well.
The performance gap between the two isn't significant, but what's become apparent is McLaren's difficulty in handling intra-team battles and race strategy. For example, during the Hungarian Grand Prix, a pivotal moment highlighted this issue. McLaren's unintentional undercut on Oscar Piastri saw Norris rejoin the race ahead of his teammate. Norris, being the faster driver at the time, refused to give the position back, arguing that he deserved to stay in front. Under immense pressure, Piastri started making mistakes, which only further complicated the situation.
When Norris finally let Piastri through, it was too late in the race for Piastri to make much use of his track position, but it ultimately cost Norris valuable points. Piastri went on to win his first race, but the tension and mismanagement were clear for all to see.
The Monza Grand Prix was another race that could have delivered more for McLaren but instead underscored the team's strategic issues. Starting from pole position, Lando Norris was in the perfect position to fight for a win. Oscar Piastri, lining up second, was also set for a strong race. With Max Verstappen starting down in P7, McLaren was in a dream scenario. However, things quickly fell apart in the first lap.
On the approach to Turn 2, Oscar made a risky move on Lando, nearly causing a crash. Lando lost momentum, allowing Charles Leclerc to slip by, which put McLaren immediately on the back foot. Piastri, in turn, overcooked his tires trying to fend off Leclerc, forcing McLaren into a two-stop strategy, while Leclerc executed a single stop and eventually won the race. Piastri finished second, with Norris in third.
This was a race McLaren should have dominated given their strong starting positions, but poor decision-making, risky moves between teammates, and an ineffective race strategy allowed Ferrari and Leclerc to snatch the victory. In the final laps, McLaren didn't even consider swapping Norris and Piastri for the extra points, costing Lando yet another chance to maximize his haul.
Monza was emblematic of McLaren's broader struggles this season: they have a car that can win races, but they're too often undone by internal conflicts and strategic blunders.
Managing two competitive drivers is always a delicate balance for any team, and McLaren is no exception. While Lando Norris has proven to be more consistent over the course of the season, Oscar Piastri's sudden bursts of speed have created tension between the two. The team's unwillingness to decisively handle this dynamic may be costing them valuable points.
For instance, in Hungary, Norris gave up 7 points to Piastri by letting him pass, and in Monza, the team's hesitation to make a bold call potentially cost Norris another 3 points. In a season where every point counts, these small errors in judgment are adding up, and it's these kinds of mistakes that will determine whether McLaren can seriously challenge for the title in the closing stages.
The raw pace of the McLaren car is undeniable. From Miami to Monza, they've proven they can compete at the front, and with 8 races and 3 sprints remaining, there are plenty of opportunities for the team to add more victories to their tally. But can they win the championship? That's the bigger question.
From a driver's perspective, Lando Norris is still in the title fight, trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points. While that gap is substantial, there are 230 points still up for grabs, meaning it's mathematically possible for Norris to make a charge. However, McLaren's inconsistent race management and internal dynamics will need to be addressed for that to happen.
For Oscar Piastri, a championship challenge seems far less likely. While he's had an impressive rookie season, the gap between him and the front-runners is too large for him to make a realistic run for the title.
McLaren has one of the best cars on the grid, and both Norris and Piastri are more than capable of winning races. However, the team's current approach is preventing them from fully capitalizing on their potential. Whether it's internal battles between the drivers or strategic miscalculations on race day, McLaren's ability to win consistently is being hampered by issues that go beyond just the performance of the car.
If McLaren can refine their approach, focus on minimizing intra-team conflict, and execute flawless strategies, there's no reason they can't continue to win races—and even push for the championship. But to do so, they need to ensure that when the opportunity for victory presents itself, they're ready to seize it without hesitation. Time is running out, and with Red Bull still strong, McLaren can't afford any more missteps if they hope to turn their impressive season into a winning one.