Norris: McLaren Drivers Secondary to Team as Constructors' Title Nears

Norris Prioritizes Team Over Drivers Amid McLaren's Title Push

Why it matters: Lando Norris has unequivocally stated that the "spirit of the team is a priority," positioning himself and teammate Oscar Piastri as secondary to McLaren's collective goal. This philosophy is crucial as the team stands on the cusp of clinching the 2025 Constructors' Championship at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The big picture: McLaren, currently enjoying a resurgence, can secure the 2025 constructors' title if they outperform Ferrari by nine points or more at the Baku City Circuit, while also preventing Mercedes from outscoring them by 11 points or Red Bull by 32 points. A victory coupled with a P3 finish would be sufficient to seal the championship with seven races remaining. This comes after recent scrutiny over McLaren's 'papaya rules' following a strategy call at the Italian Grand Prix.

The details:

• Team First: Norris reiterated McLaren's core principle to GPblog: "The team is the priority. The team is number one, then the drivers are second. That's how it works."
• Lessons from Rivals: He highlighted historical examples, noting, "When you see teams who don't have enough respect for the team... it doesn't normally last long. You see that with plenty of other teams, whether it's been Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes."
• Monza Context: The discussion follows an incident at Monza where Norris was given back P2 after a slow pit stop allowed Piastri, who had stopped a lap earlier, to briefly move ahead, putting McLaren's 'papaya rules' under the spotlight.
• Sustained Success: Norris emphasized the desire for long-term success, stating, "We want to try and be in this position for a longer period of time than what they have been at the top."
• Driver Perspective: He concluded, "Without the team, then we're just fighting for tenth, and none of us want that. So team and the morale, the spirit of the team, is a priority, and we're below that."

What's next: Having ended a 26-year drought with their previous constructors' championship, McLaren is now aiming for back-to-back titles for the first time since 1990 and 1991. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix presents a significant opportunity for the team to achieve this milestone, reinforcing their 'team first' ethos.