Source: REUTERS/Florion Goga
[Saba Sports News] F1 legend Mario Gabriele Andretti issued a stern warning to McLaren Team: if they don’t quickly establish a number one driver between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the dream of winning the championship in 2025 will repeat the tragedy of the Lotus team’s ‘internal strife’ in 1973. With Piastri leading the team’s score table by 16 points, the power struggle over the championship is approaching its countdown. Andretti dug up buried history in a podcast: “Back then, Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson sabotaged each other, ultimately allowing Jackie Stewart to take the crown. Now McLaren Team is like looking in the mirror and seeing a nightmare from 50 years ago.” In response, Andretti proposed a cruel but realistic solution – establish the core driver based on the points situation before the summer break. What’s more subtle is the contract clauses of the two drivers; Norris’ contract, which expires in 2027, contains an equal competition clause, while Piastri’s agent, Mark Webber, has already said: “We do not accept being permanently designated as a second driver.” This sweet dilemma starting from technical superiority is becoming the ultimate management problem that tests the team’s boldness.