Fittipaldi weighs in on McLaren’s title hopes and the challenge of team orders

The 78-year-old, a two-time Formula 1 world champion, first with Lotus and then with McLaren, praised his former team for their strong performance this season, saying, “It’s great to see McLaren back again on top.”

Fittipaldi was asked about the intense pressure that comes with leading a Formula 1 title race, especially within a competitive team environment. Reflecting on the mental and emotional demands drivers face, he said, "They have the pressure for the championship campaign and they have extra pressure of teammates. You know, it's double pressure, not just trying to win the championship, but the competition from both."

He also touched on the potential challenges McLaren could face if their title fight intensifies, particularly when managing two drivers closely matched in performance. With both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri delivering strong results, the team could soon find itself needing to make tough strategic decisions. Stella has touched on the decision of making team orders during the 2025 season.

"At one point someone is going to have more points in the championship and I don't know what Zac Brown or Andrea [Stella] is going to do", he remarked, pointing to the difficult balancing act McLaren’s leadership may face if team orders or a clear number one driver becomes necessary in the title fight.