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In 2025, McLaren didn't just win, it convinced. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, at just 24 and 26 years old, proved they were ready to lead a new era in Formula 1. Between Lando's victories and Oscar's consistency, the team built a solid dominance that carried them to both the drivers' and constructors' championships.
A beginning that set the tone
That dominance didn't take long to show. From the very start of the season, the message was clear. In Australia, Norris claimed victory from pole position in a race shaped by rain, while Piastri, after a mistake on the wet track, finished ninth. It was a beginning that not only set the tone, but also hinted at what was to come.
But that success didn't just bring trophies, it changed everything around the team. Expectations grew, and with them, the pressure. Lando went from being a rising talent to the driver to watch, and the criticism that had followed him only intensified. On social media, every move began to be analyzed more closely, with no shortage of comments pointing to what some saw as arrogance.
From confidence to uncertainty
With that context, the jump into 2026 felt more abrupt than expected, especially with the changes across Formula 1. Back in Australia, Norris could only manage a fifth-place finish, far from the spotlight of the previous year, while Piastri didn't even make the start after an incident on the way to the grid. Little by little, the sense of control began to fade.
What seemed like an isolated setback was confirmed in China. Both cars were unable to start due to technical issues, leaving behind an image that was hard to ignore. In a matter of weeks, McLaren went from certainty to confusion, from setting the pace to trying to understand what's going wrong.
Still, the calendar offers a break that could change everything. Before any major adjustments, the team will head to Japan from March 27 to 29, an immediate chance to measure their response. After that, the cancellations of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia create a wider window to regroup, with the season set to resume directly in Miami in early May.
That time could become a much-needed reset. It's not just about technical fixes, but also a mental reset, a chance to rebuild confidence and reconnect with the level that once made them the dominant force of 2025.