![\"Yuki](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/racefansdotnet-24-09-07-17-22-47-1-SI202509070768-470x313.jpg\")
<\/a>Verstappen\u2019s team mates have lagged far behind himWhen Red Bull dominated the 2023 championship, Max Verstappen<\/a> took the drivers\u2019 title and team mate Sergio Perez came second. The following year, with a less competitive car, Verstappen still prevailed in the drivers\u2019 contest by 63 points.<\/p>\nLogically, the RB20 was therefore capable of delivering the constructors\u2019 title, but Perez scored so poorly the team came third. Meanwhile McLaren clinched the constructors\u2019 championship but it was clear at least one of their drivers could have been champion too<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year McLaren hold the upper hand and have made it clear they will allow both drivers to fight for the title. The pair were neck-and-neck before Lando Norris\u2019s<\/a> retirement with a technical failure in Austria.<\/p>\n McLaren are poised to clinch the earliest constructors\u2019 championship title for 37 years<\/a>. The contrast to Red Bull is clear: Verstappen is third in the drivers\u2019 standings, yet has scored 230 out of Red Bull\u2019s 239 points.<\/p>\n Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free<\/a><\/p>\n In 2013 Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo said he preferred that arrangement because \u201cI don\u2019t want to have two roosters in the same hen house.\u201d<\/a> But that philosophy did not endure after he left; today Ferrari has two top-drawer drivers in Lewis Hamilton<\/a> and Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n Is there a \u2018best way\u2019 to run an F1 team? Or do both approaches inevitably mean compromises? Have your say in this week\u2019s poll.<\/p>\n \u2018Two roosters\u2019<\/p>\n Picking the two best drivers available and treating them as equally as possible is the best way to ensure the maximum points haul in the constructors\u2019 championship, which is crucial as it determines the money teams receive.<\/p>\n Prioritising a single driver means that if the second driver cannot get close enough to them, championship-winning chances may be lost. It also leaves a team vulnerable if their lead driver gets injured and has to miss races, as happened with Ferrari and Schumacher in 1999.<\/p>\n \u2018Number one\u2019<\/p>\n Picking the single best driver available and prioritising their performance is the best way to ensure the maximum points haul in the drivers\u2019 championship, which is the most prestigious of the two F1 titles.<\/p>\n Dividing resources equally between two drivers inevitably compromises a team\u2019s efforts. For example, new parts cannot be introduced until at least two of them have been built, which can mean delays. And there is the complication of fairly managing pit strategies, as illustrated by McLaren\u2019s recent headaches.<\/p>\n I say<\/p>\n This is an easy question to answer purely from a fan\u2019s point of view. I want to see competition, therefore I want every team to take the best drivers they can and give them the best possible chance to succeed. Drivers should have to fight their team mates like any other rival and not expect them to always defer.<\/p>\n But realistically, because F1 offers two titles, teams are pulled in conflicting directions. The best approach to win the constructors\u2019 championship is not necessarily the best approach to win the drivers\u2019 championship.<\/p>\n As long as teams are trying to succeed in both championships, there is no perfect answer to this dilemma. However it seems to me that the \u2018number one\u2019 approach risks putting the goal of an individual before the team. That puts me slightly in favour of the more even-handed approach.<\/p>\n Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free<\/a><\/p>\n You say<\/p>\n Should teams prioritise a single driver or split their efforts evenly between two? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.<\/p>\n Should F1 teams have ‘two roosters’ or a ‘clear number one’?<\/p>\n \t\tDon’t know (0%) Total Voters: 39<\/p>\n A RaceFans account is required in order to vote. If you do not have one, register an account here<\/a> or read more about registering here<\/a>. When this poll is closed the result will be displayed instead of the voting form.<\/p>\n![\"Lando](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/racefansdotnet-24-09-09-11-17-20-2-2233557163-470x313.jpg\")
<\/a>McLaren have struggled with how to treat their drivers equallyThis is only the most extreme example of a situation seen many times before. For many years Ferrari operated a clear \u2018number one\u2019 policy. That was the case in Michael Schumacher\u2019s time and for many years afterwards.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tStrongly prefer ‘two roosters’ (54%)
\n\t\tSlightly prefer ‘two roosters’ (21%)
\n\t\tNo preference (10%)
\n\t\tSlightly prefer ‘clear number one’ (10%)
\n\t\tStrongly prefer ‘clear number one’ (5%)<\/p>\n![\"Loading](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/loading.gif\" "\\"Loading")
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