Ten races remain between the Dutch Grand Prix and the finale in Abu Dhabi, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris contesting McLaren's drivers' championship. Nine points separate the teammates, with the advantage swinging between them and no clear leader entering the run-in. Piastri showed consistency and calm to lead early, while Norris made errors pushing a car he does not fully like. McLaren intend to give both drivers equal opportunity and say they will not use team orders unless an unassailable lead arises. Teammates have kept a friendly relationship despite hard racing and one Canada collision. Lewis Hamilton struggled at Ferrari before the break, qualifying 12th in Budapest and calling the performance 'absolutely useless.'
Only nine points separate the McLaren duo, who are in a two-horse race for the team's first drivers' championship since Lewis Hamilton's triumph in 2008. The advantage has swung between them, at times from one race to the next, in the first part of the season, often with little to choose between the two. Neither driver has been able to definitively claim the upper hand entering the championship run-in. It looks set to remain a nip-and-tuck fight to the wire.
Piastri came out on top in the early phases, his consistency and calm control edging out Norris, who made errors as he pushed a car that is not quite to his liking. McLaren have been admirably determined to give both drivers an equal shot, insisting they will not employ team orders, a policy which can be expected to continue until (and if) one of their drivers claims an unassailable advantage.
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