McLaren's dual-driver strategy faces sustainability questions

Former F1 driver Derek Daly warns that McLaren's approach of letting Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri compete freely for the championship is unsustainable against a rival team like Red Bull, which focuses its efforts on a single lead driver.

Why it matters:

McLaren's refusal to implement team orders in 2025, even as Max Verstappen mounted a late-season charge, nearly cost them the constructors' championship. The debate highlights a classic tension in Formula 1: the balance between intra-team competition and the strategic necessity of consolidating efforts to beat a dominant rival.

The details:

• McLaren started 2025 as the fastest team, allowing Norris and Piastri to fight for the title without team orders until the final round.
• A mid-season slump for Red Bull was followed by a late resurgence from Verstappen, who finished just two points behind champion Norris.
• Daly argues that if Verstappen had not suffered his mid-season dip in form, Red Bull's singular focus on him would have secured the title, as McLaren's points were split between its two drivers.
• He draws a parallel to Ferrari's historical strategy of fully supporting Michael Schumacher, suggesting such a focused approach is often necessary to win championships against strong competition.

The big picture:

McLaren's philosophy of driver equality is admirable and has fostered a strong, competitive environment, but the 2025 season outcome serves as a case study in its potential risks. In an era where the margins at the front are incredibly tight, the strategic decision of whether to back one driver or let both race freely becomes a critical component of championship planning.

What's next:

The pressure on McLaren's management will intensify in 2026. If they find themselves in another close title fight, likely against a Red Bull team rallying behind Verstappen, they will face the difficult decision of whether to maintain their egalitarian principles or adopt a more pragmatic, number-one driver strategy to secure the ultimate prize.