Norris vs. Piastri: Tension at McLaren after Singapore crash

Tension at McLaren: The Incident Dividing the Team

The Singapore Grand Prix of Formula 1 left more than George Russell’s victory and the constructors’ title for McLaren. Attention focused on the crash between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the first lap, an incident that could define the rest of the 2025 season. Although the FIA considered the contact a racing incident, within McLaren, the situation is more delicate. Internal rules promise fair play, but the incident in Singapore adds to a series of controversies that the team must carefully manage.

What Happened on the Track?

Norris, after a good start, tried to overtake his teammate at turn 1. Piastri gave him space, but at turn 3, Norris touched the rear of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, losing control and colliding with Piastri. Norris’s front wing damage was minor, but the contact with Piastri relegated him to third place. Piastri, for his part, was visibly annoyed on the radio.

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

Oscar Piastri

In the radio, Piastri expressed his frustration and questioned Norris’s maneuver. Piastri’s race engineer, Tom Stallard, tried to calm the situation, but Piastri insisted that Norris’s maneuver was not fair. From the onboard camera of Piastri’s car, the contact with Verstappen was not visible, so it seemed that Norris had crashed directly into his teammate.

The incident has reignited the discussion about Norris’ aggressiveness on the first lap. Norris, for his part, defended his action, arguing that any driver would have done the same.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I did. Of course, I miscalculated how close I was to Max, but that’s racing,” Norris said.

Lando Norris

Why Didn’t McLaren Intervene?

The McLaren team has a clear policy of avoiding collisions between its drivers. Team principal Andrea Stella explained that the contact was a result of the incident with Verstappen, and that, therefore, it was considered a racing incident. Stella understood Piastri’s frustration, but highlighted the importance of drivers expressing their feelings over the radio. The team will review the incident to analyze it and improve their approach.

What’s Next for the Title Battle?

With six races remaining, the tension between Norris and Piastri could increase. Piastri leads Norris by 22 points. Internal pressure at McLaren could affect the team’s race rules. Stella emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication between the drivers and the team. Despite good intentions, team-mate racing rules have their limits. In borderline situations, each driver will interpret the rules in their favor. McLaren’s future in the fight for the title will depend on how they manage this situation.