Lando Norris has recently stated that McLaren’s current success, including his 2025 Drivers’ World Championship, stems directly from his decision to adhere to team orders at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. Norris believes that had he not ceded position to Oscar Piastri, the team’s trajectory and harmony would have been significantly different.
The incident occurred on July 21, 2024, at the Hungaroring, where McLaren had secured a front-row lockout with Norris on pole and Piastri starting second. Piastri took the lead at the start of the race.
During the race, McLaren opted to pit Norris first on Lap 46 to cover off Lewis Hamilton, providing him with fresher tyres and allowing him to undercut Piastri for the lead. Team orders were subsequently issued for Norris to allow Piastri to regain the lead.
Norris initially resisted these instructions, arguing that Piastri, as the lead car on the road, should have been pitted first. His race engineer, Will Joseph, emphasized the importance of team unity, stating, ‘The way to win a championship is not by yourself; it’s with the team. You’re going to need Oscar, and you’re going to need the team.’
Norris eventually complied, slowing on the pit straight with three laps remaining to allow Piastri to take his maiden Formula 1 victory. This decision secured McLaren’s first one-two finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
Reflecting on the event, Norris highlighted the delicate nature of team atmosphere. He suggested that maintaining the lead would have led to personal regret and a detrimental impact on team harmony, potentially affecting his relationship with Piastri.
McLaren’s performance saw a significant upturn following the 2024 season. The team secured the Constructors’ Championship that year, marking their first title since 1998 and ending a 26-year drought.
The team continued this momentum into the 2025 season, successfully defending their Constructors’ title. They clinched their tenth Constructors’ Championship at the Singapore Grand Prix with six races remaining, achieving back-to-back titles for the first time since 1990 and 1991.
Lando Norris also achieved his maiden Drivers’ World Championship in 2025. He secured the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, finishing third in the race and narrowly beating Max Verstappen by two points in the standings.
Norris became the 35th driver and 11th Briton to win the World Championship, and the eighth for McLaren. In 2025, both Norris and Piastri secured seven race victories each, contributing to McLaren’s dominant season where the MCL39 won 14 Grands Prix.
Oscar Piastri finished third in the 2025 Drivers’ standings, 13 points behind his teammate. Norris now races with car number 1 as the reigning World Champion in 2026.
The 2026 Formula 1 season has presented McLaren with a challenging start. The team began the year with what was considered the fourth-fastest car, struggling with a narrow tyre operating window and a downforce deficit.
Oscar Piastri has admitted to experiencing ‘more lows than highs’ during the first half of the current season. He retired from the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix due to a gearbox failure.
Despite early difficulties, McLaren has shown recent progress. Lando Norris secured the team’s first victory of the 2026 campaign at the Hungarian Grand Prix, converting his pole position into a commanding win. This marked his 12th career Grand Prix victory.
Team Principal Andrea Stella noted that an enforced break earlier in the year allowed McLaren to focus on addressing the MCL40’s shortcomings, including understanding their new Mercedes-Benz power unit. McLaren is also observing Ferrari’s rapid upgrade pace this season.
Currently, Piastri sits seventh in the 2026 Drivers’ Standings with 92 points, 26 points behind Norris, who is in fifth place. The Formula 1 season is presently on its summer break and will resume from August 21-23 with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
