Guenther Steiner Warns McLaren's Equal Driver Strategy Was a 'Big Risk' to 2025 Title

Guenther Steiner believes McLaren's decision to let Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race freely for the 2025 championship was a "big risk" that nearly backfired spectacularly. He argues this approach effectively "helped" Max Verstappen stay in contention, with Norris ultimately prevailing by a mere two points. The former Haas team principal warns that managing two top-tier drivers without a clear number one will be incredibly difficult for McLaren in any future title battles.

Why it matters:

Steiner's perspective challenges the feel-good story of McLaren's 2025 season, suggesting their celebrated driver policy was a strategic flaw rather than a strength. It underscores the immense pressure and complex calculus teams face when two drivers are capable of winning a title, forcing a choice between sporting idealism and pragmatic championship hunting. For a team that prides itself on equal driver status, this creates a significant long-term dilemma as they aim to stay at the top.

The details:

• Steiner was blunt in his assessment, telling Sport Krone: "Without McLaren's help, Red Bull would never have had a chance to fight for the World Championship."
• He argued that if McLaren had "put their faith in one driver after the summer break," the championship would have been decided much earlier, implying a switch to support Oscar Piastri could have sealed the deal.
• Lando Norris clinched his first drivers' title by the narrowest of margins, just two points ahead of Max Verstappen, in the closest championship finish since 2007.
• The Italian is concerned about the long-term viability of the Norris-Piastri pairing, warning, "if McLaren is fighting for the title again... it will be difficult to manage in the long run" unless one driver becomes "completely superior."

What's next:

McLaren now faces a crucial strategic decision heading into the 2026 season and beyond. The team's leadership must decide whether to stick to its core principle of driver equality or implement a more hierarchical system to maximize its championship potential. The dynamic between Norris and Piastri will be under intense scrutiny, as their on-track battles and off-track relationship could define McLaren's era of dominance or become its biggest internal obstacle.