An inevitable battle, an immovable strategy

The Canadian Grand Prix, while bringing a new season winner and a historic podium for a young driver, was marked by an outcome that seemed written from the start of the year: the inevitable battle between the two McLaren drivers. What many anticipated as a matter of time finally happened. The internal fight between the two main contenders for the championship exploded onto the track, confirming that when two teammates fight for the same goal, conflict isn't a possibility. It's a certainty.

Photo: McLaren

During this Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri started from third place hoping to secure another podium finish of his season, but on the first lap, he lost that spot to an aggressive Kimi Antonelli, who didn't hesitate to seize his opportunity. Meanwhile, Lando Norris, starting from seventh, embarked on a different strategy, determined to make up ground and score as many points as possible. From the start, he looked determined, with solid pace, consistent speed, and a determination that made it clear he wouldn't settle for a modest result.

While Norris was making strong progress, Piastri couldn't find a way past Antonelli. His pace was less competitive, and he seemed trapped in a race with few options. But everything changed in the final laps, when Norris, after a remarkable comeback, caught up with his teammate, unleashing an internal battle as intense as it was inevitable.

With three laps remaining, the Briton attempted an extremely risky overtake, pushing into a gap that was almost nonexistent. Contact was inevitable: he touched Piastri and ended up hitting the wall, resulting in his DNF in a maneuver that completely undone the great work he had done throughout the race. Piastri, meanwhile, managed to stay on the track, maintain his position, and finish fourth, emerging as the biggest beneficiary of the incident.

Photo: Formula 1

Norris was quick to admit his mistake. In subsequent statements, he took full responsibility, calling what happened a "silly mistake" and admitting that he risked more than he should have. With no points for him, the most direct consequence was a widening gap in the drivers' championship: he now trails his teammate by 22 points.

In post-race interviews, Lando Norris didn't hesitate to take the blame for the incident with his teammate. He openly admitted his mistake, calling it unnecessary, and apologized to both Oscar Piastri and the McLaren team. It was a mature reaction that sought to calm the waters after an incident that, while a result of competitiveness, could have had even greater consequences.

Piastri, for his part, accepted his teammate's apology, making it clear that he understood the context of the situation. He acknowledged that it was a fair fight between two drivers fighting for the same thing: the world championship. Tension is inevitable when both are at the peak of their performance and separated by such a close points gap.

However, as team principal Andrea Stella put it, these kinds of incidents don't go unnoticed. Even if mutual respect is maintained, there will be internal consequences. Necessary conversations are taking place within the team, both strategic and personal, to reevaluate how these situations are handled among teammates who no longer just share a box, but also an ambition: to become world champions. He also highlighted, emphasized, and acknowledged Lando Norris's great gesture in taking the blame from the outset. The McLaren director praised the British driver's attitude; this type of behavior strengthens the team's internal cohesion and demonstrates Norris's commitment not only to his on-track performance, but also to the team's  and personal values.

But what real consequences does all this have for McLaren? Will the team change its philosophy? Will a number one driver begin to emerge within the team? Or will we see a change in the strategy they will employ for the rest of the season to prevent an internal rivalry from costing them the title?

The consequences are clear and, in a way, inevitable. McLaren is a team that has championed equality among its drivers, without designating a number one, and with both fighting for the championship separated by just a few points, tense situations like the one experienced at the Canadian Grand Prix were only a matter of time. Both Andrea Stella and Zak Brown are fully aware of this reality, as are the drivers themselves. It's not a surprise, it wasn't an unexpected incident; as everyone on the team has said at some point, it wasn't a question of "if" it would happen, but "when." And Canada was that moment.

However, McLaren will not change its way of working. Stella was clear after the race: internal conversations will be held to analyze what happened, understand why it happened, and how to prevent a repeat, but the team's philosophy will not change. There will be no imposed hierarchies, nor new rules that condition direct confrontations between its drivers.

The team will continue to pursue the same approach that has made them protagonists this season. Of course, with a firm commitment to learning from what happened and preventing such an incident from compromising the results of both drivers again. The internal competition will continue, but with a greater awareness that the real enemy is not inside the pit box, but in the other colors of the grid.

Additionally, it's crucial to keep in mind that choosing a number one driver at this point in the season wouldn't be entirely fair or strategic. So far, the performances between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been incredibly close. The gap between the two is just 22 points, less than the amount of a win, in a season with more than half the calendar still to go.

After only ten races, it's clear that both have not only the level, but also the real chances of fighting for the title. Taking sides now would nip in the bud an internal battle that, while intense, is also elevating the team's performance. As long as the competition remains respectful and controlled, McLaren has one of the strongest and most balanced pairings on the grid. And limiting one of its drivers could mean losing the competitive advantage that has led them to dominate much of the year.

And to be honest, the fight for the drivers' championship isn't really McLaren's priority. The team's main focus is on the Constructors' Championship, where they currently hold a solid 175-point lead over their rivals. This is where the Woking team is betting all its chips, and with the dominant and consistent performance of both drivers, that goal seems more than achievable.

What matters to McLaren and they've made this clear race after race is securing that collective title. In contrast to last seasons, where the notorious Papaya Rules became a constant and sometimes frustrating issue for fans, this year they have almost completely disappeared. In situations where other teams would have intervened with clear orders, McLaren has opted not to interfere. They've let Norris and Piastri compete freely, even in moments where a small tactical adjustment could have made them gain more positions, a podium or more points.

This philosophy, while risky, makes the races more exciting and transparent for spectators, but it also makes it very clear what the team's true priority is: as long as both drivers are scoring points, even if they take them away from each other, McLaren won't interfere. The constructors' title is what gives them prestige, stability, money, and future momentum. And as long as Norris and Piastri continue to contribute consistently, that internal battle will continue to be something the team will observe but not control.