F1 champion highlights 'double pressure' facing McLaren

Two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi has described the “double pressure” McLaren is under amid its title hunt this year.

The Woking-based squad entered the year looking to add to its constructors' championship from 2024.

With a healthy 197-point lead after just nine rounds, it appears well on its way to achieving back-to-back teams' titles.

However, it is still seeking its first drivers' championship since 2007, with Oscar Piastri currently leading team-mate Lando Norris by 10 points.

As the duo look to achieve their own personal glory, Fittipaldi stated McLaren has a job on its hands to ensure the title fight does not produce any ill feelings between its drivers.

“They have the pressure for the championship campaign, and they have the extra pressure of team-mates,” Fittipaldi told the Beyond the Grid podcast.

“It’s double pressure, not just trying to win the championship, but [managing] competition from both.

“At one point, I don't know when it’s going to happen, someone is going to have more points in the championship.

“I don't know what Zak Brown or Andrea Stella is going to do [about] it. I like to live open to the situation, because that's racing.”

Fittipaldi suggested the situation will be easier to manage if Max Verstappen, or indeed any other driver, is unable to get involved in the title battle.

“They now have open opportunities,” he added.

“It depends how lucky each one is going to be to get more points than the other and how close the third guy is going to be in the championship.

“If it's not close, we'll fight between both until the end of the championship.”