Norris vs Piastri: Tension at McLaren after Singapore crash. F1 at its peak.

Tension at McLaren: Analysis of the Collision between Norris and Piastri in Singapore

The Singapore Grand Prix of Formula 1 not only left the surprising victory of George Russell, but also highlighted the growing tension in the drivers’ championship, focusing attention on the incident between McLaren teammates, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The contact on the first lap between both drivers was the subject of meticulous analysis, considering its possible repercussions in the six remaining races of 2025. From the perspective of the FIA’s racing rules, the incident was considered a simple racing incident, common on the first lap of a Grand Prix. The stewards decided not to investigate, which meant that the collision, with no lasting damage to either car, did not warrant any post-race statement. However, within McLaren’s internal battle, the incident was perceived more delicately. According to team rules, which promise fair play from the pit wall in exchange for avoiding contact between the drivers on the track, the incident generated controversy.

What Happened?

Norris, starting from fifth position, had a good start and was aggressive, overtaking Kimi Antonelli and going to the inside of his teammate Piastri at Turn 1. Piastri left space for Norris to position himself alongside him at Turn 2, but the situation became complicated when approaching Turn 3 with Max Verstappen ahead. With scant centimeters to spare, Norris matched at the apex, but grazed the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull. In a split second, that contact caused the rear of Norris’s car to slide, resulting in a second collision with Piastri, who was trying to trace a path on the outside of the curve. Norris suffered damage to the front wing due to contact with Verstappen, but the crash with Piastri allowed him to move up to third position. From that moment on, Norris seemed to be the fastest driver, and after chasing Verstappen, he finished the race on the podium ahead of his teammate, who finished fourth.

“That wasn’t very team-like, but oh well,” Piastri said over the team radio after the contact.

Oscar Piastri

On lap 3, Piastri asked on the radio: “Are we okay with Lando pushing me off the track, or… what’s going on?”. Race engineer, Tom Stallard, replied that they were reviewing the situation. On lap 4, Stallard informed that there would be no further action from the stewards, as the team considered that Norris had to avoid Verstappen, and that they would review the situation after the race. Piastri replied that it wasn’t fair.

Piastri’s comments, although forceful, are understandable given his perspective. From the onboard camera of car 81, the contact between Norris and Verstappen was not visible, and it seemed that Norris lost the rear of his car and crashed into his teammate. In a season where McLaren has reiterated the golden rule of avoiding collisions, a message that was transmitted to Piastri via radio after incidents with Norris in the Austrian and Hungarian Grand Prix, Piastri perceived that Norris’s aggressive approach in the first three corners led to contact between the teammates. However, upon analyzing the situation with the replays and camera angles from both cars, it becomes clear that Norris couldn’t avoid contact with Piastri after hitting Verstappen. Norris commented that he needed to review the replays to understand what happened and that the priority was to avoid contact between the team’s cars. He stated that, in his opinion, any driver on the grid would have acted the same way, and that the mistake was misjudging the distance to Verstappen. He also added that, regardless of the situation, he would have finished ahead of Piastri.

Why Didn’t McLaren Intervene?

Regardless of the stance taken, it is a fact that there was contact between the two drivers. Since last year, when McLaren revealed the details of their “papaya rules”, there is a clear directive that the two drivers can compete, but must do so cleanly and without collisions. After this year’s Italian Grand Prix, where Piastri was instructed to yield a position to Norris following a failed pit stop, it became clear that the McLaren pit wall is willing to intervene if it believes a driver has gained a position unfairly. The team principal, Andrea Stella, explained that the pit wall considered the contact between their cars to be a result of the initial collision with Verstappen and, in effect, a racing incident. Stella understood Piastri’s frustration, but reiterated that McLaren has asked its drivers to express themselves openly on the radio instead of racing with repressed frustration.

What’s Next for the Title Battle?

The importance of the conversations before the next race in Austin, Texas, cannot be underestimated. With six races remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, while Verstappen, who finished in second place ahead of both McLarens, has reduced the distance with Piastri to 63 points.

If the distances continue to shorten, the internal pressure at McLaren will increase, which could put more strain on the team’s racing rules. Stella is aware of the pressure her team faces and the importance of all parties agreeing on each race weekend. Despite good intentions, the rules of engagement between two pilots have their limits. In divided situations, each individual will interpret the rules for their own interests. The challenge for McLaren will be even greater in the future.