Lando Norris beats Oscar Piastri to win the Austrian GP – big victory for McLaren

• By Dr. AK Rana

The Austrian GP 2025 raced everyone’s heartbeat, especially McLaren fans.

What made it even more thrilling?

Not just the on-track action, but the absolute display of sportsmanship—no foul play, no favoritism, just pure, old-school, wheel-to-wheel racing.

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At McLaren, there are two garages, two teams—Team Lando and Team Oscar, with their dedicated engineers.

But when those lights go out,

there’s just one identity: Team Papaya.

From Lap 1, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were on it.

They raced like their lives depended on it, going side-by-side, barely leaving an inch.

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Oscar even threw his car into a few 50-50 scenarios—moves so risky,

a crash could’ve been on the cards.

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Why This Was More Than Just A Race – Austrian GP 

Because just one race ago, at the Canadian GP, the McLaren duo did collide.

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Many expected strict team orders to follow—prioritizing the team over the driver,

or even defining a first and second driver like many top teams do.

But McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella wasn’t having any of it. He backed his drivers firmly, saying:

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“They are racers—and they are free to race.”

This defiance hit even harder when you recall the 2024 controversy. Back then, McLaren was heavily criticized for forcing Lando to give position to Oscar purely based on pit-stop order, even when Lando was in the title fight.

Fans debated whether McLaren had lost its way.

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But in 2025?

The message is loud and clear: the boys are free to fight.

Contrast That With… Ferrari

You know what doesn’t build a team?

Shouting on team radio to swap cars mid-race just to get ahead of your teammate.

Ferrari, anyone?

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Whether it’s with Carlos Sainz or now Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc has often been heard requesting position swaps, even when overtaking was far from guaranteed.

The Prince of Ferrari seems less focused on winning the race and more on beating his teammate.

And let’s talk Austrian GP again—Lewis didn’t want to box, but Ferrari boxed him anyway.

Why?

Many believe it was a move to protect Leclerc’s position.

Strategic or not, it once again showed how Ferrari appears to favor one driver over another—even at the cost of race results.

Performance-wise and policy-wise, Ferrari isn’t setting the standard. That’s a problem when your rivals are operating with synergy and giving fans exciting, fair racing.

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McLaren’s Way – Risk and Reward

To be fair,

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McLaren’s freedom works partly because they’re leading the Constructors’ Championship with a healthy margin.

They have room to breathe. But that doesn’t mean they’re being reckless.

In fact, in the Austrian GP,

Oscar was told on the radio:

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“Oscar, no more 50-50!”

You can bet Oscar made a face under that helmet—we just couldn’t see it.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Still, it shows McLaren’s balance: encouraging the fight but drawing the line when needed. That’s team building done right.

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Meanwhile, in Red Bull Garage…

Red Bull fans would be feeling the blues as Max Verstappen went out on Turn 1—a rare DNF, thanks to a crash with Kimi Antonelli, who locked up and collected Max.

Both out.

Boom.

The home crowd stunned.

This GP was a rollercoaster of thrill and adrenaline, and a much-needed recovery for Lando Norris after his Canadian heartbreak.

🏁 Austrian GP 2025 – You Gave Us Everything.

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