Piastri’s Absence from McLaren Celebration
After McLaren’s victory at the Singapore Grand Prix and the celebration of the constructors’ championship, social media was filled with comments about the absence of Oscar Piastri, who leads the drivers’ standings. Piastri finished in fourth place, behind his teammate and rival, Lando Norris. This result was enough to secure the constructors’ championship for McLaren. The race was marked by controversy. Norris overtook Piastri on the first lap, almost causing the Australian driver to crash into the wall. Piastri expressed his frustration with the maneuver.Norris’s maneuver reduced Piastri’s lead in the drivers’ championship to three points. After the podium ceremony, the McLaren team celebrated the achievement on the podium. As “We Are The Champions” by Queen played, Norris was joined by team principal Andrea Stella, McLaren CEO Zak Brown, and most of the team to celebrate. The absence of Piastri generated speculation about whether he had decided not to celebrate with the team. However, the reality was different. Pilots must follow a protocol after the race, determined by their final position. The top three give interviews for television. Then they go to the cool-down room and then to the podium. Drivers who do not go on the podium must go to the FIA weighbridge and then to the press zone for interviews. Piastri, finishing fourth, had to comply with this protocol. It is common for drivers who finish outside the podium to give interviews while the national anthem is playing. After the race, Piastri joined McLaren for the planned celebration: a photo in the pit-lane with both drivers, the team and Stella. Zak Brown had already left the circuit to catch his flight. “Job done,” Brown said, before leaving. “See you in Austin.” The United States Grand Prix is one of the six remaining races of the 2025 season. Piastri leads Norris by 22 points in the drivers’ championship. Both drivers aim to become McLaren’s first champion since 2008.That’s not fair.
Oscar Piastri
