McLaren need to immediately prioritise Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri if they have any hopes of winning both Championships this season.
CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella have so far refused to give the Brit any preferential treatment over Oscar Piastri.
That has been a fair call as they hunt down the Constructors’ title.
But the gap has closed to just eight points and it is a given that they will leapfrog Red Bull with Sergio Perez continuing to struggle.
Now McLaren have to switch their focus to the drivers’ standings, where Norris is 62 points behind Max Verstappen.
The papaya car is the strongest on the grid and is the favourite to win all of the remaining races.
If the drivers cross the chequered flag in the order Piastri, Norris, Verstappen in each of the eight remaining Grands Prix then the Red Bull man will take home the world title.
But if they finish in the order of Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, then the Brit will win his first Drivers’ Championship.
McLaren’s best hopes are by backing Norris, but time is of the essence.