McLaren will soon announce their number one driver.

      "They certainly won't want to let the drivers' championship slip away."

      McLaren is likely to consider appointing a clear number 1 driver soon, according to former grand prix victor Ralf Schumacher. The team based in Woking is currently dominating the 2025 season, with many insiders believing that the constructors' championship is effectively out of reach for any other top team. However, due to the team's pace advantage, a genuine head-to-head battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the drivers' title could create serious doubts about that championship—particularly as Max Verstappen faces no real competition from his teammate.

      Norris initially led the championship, but errors and perceived mental frailties—along with Piastri’s three victories in the last four races—have placed the young Australian 16 points ahead of his teammate. Verstappen trails Norris by another 16 points, despite a noticeable car disadvantage. "Things are becoming challenging for Lando now," Schumacher commented to Sky Deutschland. "If the situation remains like this until the summer break, the team will likely want to make a decision fairly soon, I’m quite sure of that," the German added. "They certainly won't want to let the drivers' title slip away this year."

      Nonetheless, McLaren has maintained that Norris and Piastri can compete freely under the so-called 'Papaya rules.' It is also understood that Mark Webber adeptly negotiated Piastri's new contract, ensuring equal standing with Norris. "I think it's excellent that McLaren is adhering to the traditional approach of allowing the drivers to race freely," remarked former Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug, who knows the McLaren team well. "I believe it’s shortsighted to set a direction too early. That can be completely demotivating, not just for the driver, but also for the driver’s team.

      "They operate with two teams side by side and in parallel," Haug added. "One aims to outperform the other as fairly as possible, and that’s the only way for the team to progress in the long term. Therefore, I am a strong proponent of free racing."