Piastri did not celebrate: Why did McLaren win without the driver in Singapore?

Piastri’s Absence from McLaren’s Celebration: A Detailed Analysis

Following McLaren’s victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri’s absence from the constructors’ championship celebration sparked speculation on social media. The driver, who finished in fourth place, was not present on the podium, which piqued the curiosity of the fans. Piastri, who finished behind his teammate and rival in the drivers’ championship, Lando Norris, achieved a result that mathematically secured the constructors’ title for McLaren. The race was marked by controversy, especially on the first lap, when Norris overtook Piastri, almost causing an accident. Piastri expressed his frustration with the maneuver, calling it “unfair”.

“That’s not fair. I’m sorry, that’s not fair. If he has to avoid Verstappen crashing into his teammate, it’s a pretty bad job of avoiding”.

Oscar Piastri

After the podium ceremony for the top three finishers, with George Russell as the winner, Max Verstappen in second place and Norris in third, the McLaren team celebrated on the podium, with the presence of their team principal, Andrea Stella, and McLaren CEO, Zak Brown. Piastri’s absence led to speculation, but the reality was different. Post-race procedures in Formula 1 dictate the actions of the drivers according to their final position. The first three are interviewed immediately after getting out of their cars, while the drivers who finish outside the podium must go to the FIA scales before the media interviews. Piastri, after finishing fourth, followed this protocol, which explains his initial absence from the podium.

Brown and Stella gave interviews after the podium ceremony. The McLaren team gathered in the paddock for a special celebration. Most of the team members were unaware of this plan until after the race. The rules can be rigorous, as demonstrated by Lewis Hamilton, who was penalized with five seconds for exceeding the track limits. Piastri, when questioned about the incident with Norris, stated that he needed to analyze it in detail before making comments. Finally, Piastri joined McLaren for the celebration in the pit-lane, where he took a photo with both drivers, the team, and Stella. However, Brown had already left the circuit to catch his flight, demonstrating the constant dynamics in Formula 1. Brown, before leaving, expressed his satisfaction with the result. The United States Grand Prix is one of the six remaining races in the 2025 season. Piastri leads Norris by 22 points in the drivers’ championship. Both drivers aim to be the first McLaren champion since 2008.