Highlights:
Oscar Piastri expressed frustration over a contact incident with teammate Lando Norris during Singapore GP.
Earlier in the season, Piastri was instructed to yield his position to Norris at Italian GP, indicating ongoing intra-team rivalries.
McLaren has not yet publicly addressed the recent incident, leving question about team dynamics and future strategies.
The 2025 Singapore GP saw McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris embroiled in an on-trrack altercation that raised eyebrows. During the race, Norris made a bold move that led to contact with Piastri’s car.
Piastri, visibly agitated, communicated his displeasure over the team radio, stating, “Yeah. I mean, that wasn’t very team-like, but sure… So, are we cool with Lando just barging me out the way or?” His engineer responded, “We’re looking at it. Let me get back to you.”
Piastri’s frustration was palpable as he further remarked, “If he has to avoid another car by crashing into his teammate, than that’s a pretty [expletive] job of avoiding.”
Underlying Tensions
This incident is not an isolated one. Earlier in the season, at the Italian GP, McLaren issued a team order for Piastri to yield his position to Norris. While Piastri complied, his terse response over the radio indicated underlying tensions between the two drivers.
Both drivers are in a tight battle for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, with Piastri currently leading the standings. These on-track incidents have added fuel to the fire, highlighting the challenges of intra-team rivalries in a high-stakes environment.
Team Dynamics and Future Implications
The McLaren team has yet to publicly address the incident between Piastri and Norris. However, such occurrences inevitably prompt internal reviews and discussions about team strategy and driver conduct.
As the season progresses, the relationship between Piastri and Norris will be closely monitored, as their interactions on and off the track could significantly influence MCLaren’s performance and cohesion.