Tension at McLaren: Do Norris-Piastri clash complicate the F1 championship?

Tension at McLaren: Analysis of the Incident in Singapore

The Singapore Grand Prix of Formula 1, far from being remembered for George Russell’s victory or McLaren’s constructors’ title, generated an intense debate about the incident between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the first lap. The contact between the McLaren drivers was meticulously analyzed, with an eye on the implications for the six remaining races of the 2025 season. Under FIA rules, the contact was considered a racing incident, with no need for investigation. However, within the McLaren team, the situation was more delicate due to internal rules that seek to avoid contact between their drivers.

What Happened?

From fifth position, Norris made a good start, trying to overtake his teammate Piastri at the first corner. Piastri left space for Norris to draw alongside, but approaching turn 3, Norris encountered Max Verstappen. Norris touched the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull, causing his car to slide and collide with Piastri, who was trying to take a line on the outside. The incident resulted in damage to Norris’s front wing, but it was the contact with Piastri that secured him third place. From that moment on, Norris seemed to be faster, finishing on the podium ahead of his teammate, who finished fourth.

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

Oscar Piastri

In lap 3, Piastri asked the team about Norris’s action, receiving instructions to focus on the race. On lap 4, he was informed that there would be no further action from the stewards, to which Piastri responded that it was not fair.

“If you have to avoid another car by crashing into your teammate, it’s a pretty bad job of avoiding,” Piastri commented.

Oscar Piastri

In the video, it is observed that Norris could not avoid contact with Piastri after hitting Verstappen. Piastri, not seeing the contact with Verstappen, felt that Norris’s aggressiveness in the first corners caused the crash. Norris, for his part, argued that any driver would have acted the same way and that there was nothing wrong with his maneuver, although he acknowledged a small miscalculation when approaching Verstappen.

McLaren’s Decision

McLaren, after analyzing the incident, decided not to intervene, considering that the contact between its drivers was a consequence of the initial crash with Verstappen. The team director, Andrea Stella, understood Piastri’s frustration, but reiterated that the drivers can express their opinions over the radio. Stella highlighted the importance of these conversations ahead of the next race in Austin, Texas. With six races remaining, the internal pressure at McLaren will increase as the championship positions are defined. The situation tests the team’s rules and existing precedents. Stella emphasized the difficulty of maintaining the same interests among the drivers, but highlighted the importance of allowing them to compete. He acknowledged that the situation will become more difficult for McLaren, and that each driver will interpret the rules for their own benefit.