McLaren rethink their approach to Oscar Piastri after signs of a worrying downturn

There has been plenty of discussion around how McLaren has managed their drivers this year, particularly when it comes to team orders. Piastri still remembers what happened at Monza, where he was asked to move aside for Norris after a slow pit stop.

Despite assurances from Zak Brown and Andrea Stella that both drivers are treated equally, the Australian has not been convinced by how the title fight has been handled. The gap between him and Norris continues to grow.

Piastri opted for a different car setup than Norris, but according to Juan Pablo Montoya, that choice backfired on low-grip tracks. It was an internal decision by the 24-year-old that may have cost him pace.

Piastri’s growing frustration is starting to show. Mistakes have become more frequent as he tries to reverse his fortunes, giving Norris more opportunities to widen the points gap.

According to reports from Auto Motor und Sport, McLaren is now taking a tougher stance on errors compared to earlier in the season. With their focus on securing a 1-2 finish in the championship, they cannot afford any more costly mistakes.

Oscar Piastri is frustrated with how McLaren have treated him during their 2025 title fight

McLaren’s change in attitude towards Piastri has not gone unnoticed. Earlier in the year, a senior figure within the team downplayed his early wins, suggesting they came more from Norris underperforming than anything else.

The scrutiny has not eased up since then. The team placed blame on the Australian for his collision with Norris at COTA, another hit to his confidence during an already difficult period.

The increased tension has sparked talk that Piastri might consider moving on from McLaren sooner rather than later.

Guenther Steiner has even predicted that he will leave once his contract runs out – and if things continue like this, that exit could come even earlier.