McLaren's much-anticipated 'Let 'em Race' event witnesses an intense battle for supremacy between its ferocious duo, as the championship bout intensifies
In the world of Formula One, the 2022 season is shaping up to be a thrilling one, with McLaren finding themselves in a commanding position in the constructors' champions league standings championship. The team, which last won the title 26 years ago, has been making headlines for its exciting on-track battles, particularly the developing rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Norris-Piastri duel is poised to become McLaren's defining storyline this season. The two drivers have been locked in a tight battle, with Piastri holding a narrow lead over Norris. However, the gap has recently narrowed, with Piastri's lead being reduced from 37 points to 31 points at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. This six-point swing may have significant implications for McLaren's championship title.
The decision at Monza has sparked discussions about McLaren's approach to racing. Some believe the team's philosophy of "Let 'em race" may need to be reconsidered, while others argue that the team is doing the right thing by allowing its drivers to compete freely.
Meanwhile, McLaren's rivals are also making noise. Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull have faint mathematical chances of winning the constructors' title, but they would need a series of upsets to overtake McLaren.
For Red Bull, the focus is on the future. The team is expected to promote Isack Hadjar to Tsunoda's seat for the 2026 season, with Max Verstappen confirmed to remain. Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko indicated a final decision would be made by late 2025, and insiders suggest Hadjar is favored based on his strong Formula 2 performance in 2025.
In 2018, the team rivalry between Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo boiled over at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident led to Red Bull reconsidering its "no team orders" approach. Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018, and Verstappen hasn't had a teammate who has challenged him since.
Daniel Ricciardo was on the podium only once more in 2018 and lost out to Verstappen by 79 points. However, Ricciardo has found success elsewhere, and is currently driving for McLaren's rival team, McLaren.
Back at McLaren, Piastri has expressed confidence that the team has enough freedom to control its own destiny in the championship. He also expressed pride over McLaren's current position, saying, "It's great to see McLaren back at the top of the constructors' championship. We're all working hard to maintain our position and push for more wins."
With seven races remaining in the season, McLaren can win the constructors' title if one driver wins and the other finishes second or third in each of the remaining races. The gap between Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda is currently 230 points, making it unlikely that Red Bull will challenge McLaren for the title this season.
As the season progresses, the Norris-Piastri duel will be one to watch. Both drivers have shown great potential, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the remaining races. McLaren's philosophy of "Let 'em race" may be tested, but one thing is for sure – the team is in a strong position to challenge for the championship this season.
