Follow us on Google Discover The conflict between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris is rising after the two made contact at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The latter made a strong start from P5 on the grid, but he collided with the back of Max Verstappen. Subsequently, Norris slid into the path of Piastri and banged wheels as he passed him for third.
The Aussie was furious with his teammate as he demanded McLaren swap the positions, but the team did not intervene, nor did the stewards. Piastri accused Norris of poor teamwork and called it ‘unfair’ that he lost position through contact.
RANKDRIVERTEAMPOINTS1George RussellMercedes252Max VerstappenRed Bull183Lando NorrisMcLaren154Oscar PiastriMcLaren125Kimi AntonelliMercedes106Charles LeclercFerrari87Fernando AlonsoAston Martin68Lewis HamiltonFerrari49Oliver BearmanHaas210Carlos SainzWilliams12025 Singapore Grand Prix result
David Coulthard felt Piastri made a ‘compelling argument’, but ultimately, it was ignored. He finished P4 behind Norris, with the Brit cutting his lead in the championship down to 22 points with six races to go.
The Singapore Grand Prix has sparked more controversy surrounding McLaren’s team orders and how they are handling the title battle. The Woking outfit’s team dynamic is being tested as Piastri is clearly frustrated over the current situation.
Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty ImagesAndrea Stella has ‘promised’ Oscar Piastri’s camp that McLaren aren’t favouring Lando Norris
Since the Italian GP, many people in the paddock believe McLaren are favouring Norris in 2025. The Brit was given P2 in Monza after the team instructed Piastri to hand the position back to Norris following a slow pit stop.
Now, after Singapore, that suspicion has grown as the Woking outfit again favoured the Brit. Bernie Ecclestone thinks McLaren have picked Norris as their preferred champion, but Andrea Stella is on a mission to prove that is not the case.
Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 336 2 314 3 273 4 237 5 173 6 127 7 88 8 70 9 39 10 37
Journalist Diego Mejia says that the team principal has ‘promised’ to Piastri and his camp that he will analyse the situation and prove that McLaren are not favouring his teammate.
He said via the Only Drivers YouTube channel: “The issue of the celebration, in particular, seems to me to have been something very circumstantial. I mean, at that moment, the drivers have to go where they have to go and everyone wants to do it for the press and then we leave, right?
“And look, it’s clear that Piastri wasn’t in the mood for any post-race celebrations. Then he was very respectful. I think he quickly understood that it was McLaren’s time.
“Not Piastri’s or Norris’ time, it was McLaren’s time, and he joined the final celebration there and they did all the social media work. He also recognised, like Norris, all the work of the team.
“And now, well, what is happening at this hour and what they are analysing, because Andrea Stella has promised a detailed analysis of the situation to Piastri and his camp so that they can have the peace of mind that there will be fairness and that no one is being favoured.”
READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend
Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty ImagesIs Oscar Piastri considering his future at McLaren amid Lando Norris drama?
McLaren have said that they do not have a number one driver. However, the problem with having two top drivers in the team is starting to show itself as tension is rising between Piastri and Norris in the title fight.
Piastri expects ‘payback’ for letting Norris through at Monza, but McLaren did not give him that in Singapore. The issue surrounding ‘papaya rules’ is only causing more strain on the pair’s relationship, and it could reach the breaking point.
It has been reported that Piastri has ‘already set his sights’ on Ferrari for 2027. Lewis Hamilton could retire after 2026 unless he activates an extension in his contract, while Charles Leclerc is being linked with Red Bull.
Piastri will not leave McLaren while they have the ‘fastest car’, but that could quickly change under the 2026 F1 regulations, as no one knows where the team are in terms of performance. Unless the Woking outfit can keep the team spirit, they may lose one of their star drivers.