McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri look firm favourites to win the 2025 Formula 1 championship. However, they have still kept Max Verstappen in the title picture.

Many fans and pundits expected McLaren to be a shoo-in for both titles this season after clinching their first constructors’ title in 26 years in 2024. However, it was hard to tell how far their advantage was in the early stages due to the differing track surfaces and the team playing down their speed.

The Miami Grand Prix left ‘everyone’ in no doubt that McLaren were ‘miles ahead’ as Piastri and Norris stormed the field to take a 1-2 finish. Their nearest rival George Russell in the Mercedes was almost 40 seconds behind at the chequered flag.

McLaren have won five out of six races in 2025 as they build a comfortable margin over Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari heading into the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

But the drivers’ championship is still to play for, with Max Verstappen and Russell in the mix with the McLaren duo. Guenther Steiner believes the former is still a level above Piastri and Norris for one important reason.

Photo by Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Guenther Steiner tells Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to improve qualifying to be on Max Verstappen’s level

It would have been foolish to discount the reigning four-time champion in 2025. While his RB21 is inferior to the MCL39, Verstappen is extracting the absolute most from the car and is keeping up with his rivals.

The Dutchman is the only non-McLaren driver to win a race thus far in 2025, Verstappen produced a stunning pole lap at Suzuka and converted it to victory, aided by the track’s conditions and the clean air in front.

Verstappen has the most poles in 2025 with three, while Piastri has grabbed two. Norris secured pole at the season opener in Melbourne, but has since made costly errors on Saturday, including qualifying P6 in Bahrain and crashing in Q3 in Jeddah.

The Red Bull driver’s one-lap pace has been a huge threat to McLaren despite his issues with the RB21. Former Haas boss Steiner ranked Verstappen in ‘S tier’ for his efforts in 2025, while Piastri and Norris were A+ and A respectively.

Asked on The Red Flags Podcast what the McLaren duo needed to be on the same level as Verstappen, Steiner said they must improve their qualifying performance: “Killing qualifying. Qualifying kill, that is that last bit what [they’re missing],” he said.

McLaren could hand the title to Max Verstappen if they cannot resolve team orders

McLaren are in a strong position to win their first drivers’ title since 2008 this year, but who the team decide to prioritise could be their downfall.

The Woking outfit have constantly insisted that they have two No.1 drivers and have given them the freedom to race each other. So far, Piastri has the upper hand with four wins and a 16-point lead over Norris.

Martin Brundle warned McLaren that their drivers could take points off each other in 2025. Verstappen has been urged to let Piastri and Norris fight, making the championship ‘difficult’ for them and opening the door for the Dutchman if he can stay consistent.

McLaren must avoid Jackie Stewart’s 1973 situation, where he inherited the title after Lotus drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson took points off each other. Whoever the team decide to prioritise will cause drama, but it is a decision they must make to beat Verstappen.