The 2025 Formula 1 season promised a thrilling title fight — and on paper, we have one. McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are locked in a battle for the world championship, with both drivers showing consistency, speed, and maturity.

But while the rivalry is real, fans and pundits are divided: has McLaren’s friendly fight actually made this title race feel… boring?

McLaren’s Fair-Play Approach

McLaren has been clear from the start — both drivers will be treated equally, with no favoritism. The result is a refreshingly clean contest, but also one that lacks the tension we usually associate with championship battles.

Think back to Senna vs Prost, Hamilton vs Rosberg, or Verstappen vs Hamilton — fiery clashes, mind games, and headlines that transcended the racetrack. In contrast, Norris and Piastri have largely played nice, even helping each other out on track.

The most striking example was Monza, where Piastri gave Norris a slipstream in qualifying and later obeyed team orders in the race. For some, that kind of harmony feels more like corporate PR than raw sporting drama.

Why Some Find It Fascinating

Yet, there’s another angle. As writer Filip Cleeren notes, this situation is rare. Title fights almost never look like this.

Instead of teammates tearing each other apart, both drivers are prioritizing the team’s long-term success. Piastri even admitted after Monza:

“It’s easy enough to put yourself second at times like that.”

That level of selflessness is almost unheard of in F1, where careers are often built on ruthless ambition. For fans who enjoy psychology and strategy, this calm, respectful fight could be just as compelling as the usual chaos.

Is the Calm Before the Storm?

Other commentators, like Stuart Codling, argue this peace can’t last forever. With the constructors’ championship practically secured, the focus will soon shift entirely to the drivers’ crown.

At some point, “being nice” will stop being enough. As the season heads into its final races, the question becomes: when will Norris and Piastri stop holding back and truly fight?

After all, even the cleanest rivalries can boil over with just one flashpoint — a risky overtake, a strategy clash, or a missed opportunity.

Why the Title Battle Lacks Edge

Haydn Cobb and Ed Hardy take a harsher view: without drama, the 2025 title fight feels flat. F1 thrives on passion, controversy, and iconic battles that fans remember for decades.

Hamilton vs Verstappen in 2021 pulled in casual fans, making F1 headline news across the world. By contrast, the Norris–Piastri rivalry has so far been polite handshakes and orderly teamwork.

History shows fans don’t just remember who won but how they won. Will people look back at 2025 the same way they recall 1987 (Piquet vs Mansell) or 2016 (Hamilton vs Rosberg)? Probably not — unless the gloves come off.

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Final Thoughts

So, is McLaren’s friendly fight making the 2025 F1 title race boring?

• Yes, if you crave chaos, controversy, and all-out rivalry.

• No, if you find intrigue in teamwork, mutual respect, and a rare display of harmony under pressure.

But perhaps the real truth is this: the politeness won’t last forever. Sooner or later, one of McLaren’s stars will need to put themselves first. When that happens, the 2025 season could transform overnight from calm to classic.