An F1 insider has lifted the lid on the perceived bias against Oscar Piastri in an explosive report, while a former F1 world champion believes all the outside noise is starting to get to the Australian.
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Piastri enters the final weekend of the F1 season needing a lot to go his way, currently trailing second-placed Max Verstappen by four points and teammate Lando Norris by 16.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed earlier in the week that Piastri would be free to fight Norris for the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although he added that the team’s broader philosophy of fairness for both drivers will not change.
“When it comes to the fact that we have two drivers in the quest for the World Championship, our philosophy and our approach will not change,” he said.
“We will leave both Oscar and Lando the possibility to compete and pursue their aspiration.”
Stella’s comments, however, will do little to dispel the outside noise after a brutal race strategy blunder from McLaren cost Piastri a shot at a crucial race victory last week.
That error in judgement only further added fuel to conspiracy theories of preferential treatment from McLaren towards Norris and while Piastri has consistently played them down, former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve suggested deep down the Australian may feel differently.
“Over the years, you’ve heard so many teams or drivers, where one side of a team complains about conspiracies, and then it turns out that it was the other way around,” Villeneuve told CoinPoker.
“Once you’re on the losing end or you’re in a bad spell, everything goes through your mind, and then you have people that talk to you saying, ‘Of course they’re trying to shaft you. Of course, they’re trying to bring you down.’
“Then you start believing it and because you believe it, you make it happen.”
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Meanwhile, Villeneuve even suggested that if Piastri was in a position where he was asked to listen to team orders he may not be so willing to do so this time around with the title on the line.
“Will Piastri help Norris win the championship if he can’t? No, because until the last lap Piastri could still win the championship,” Villeneuve said.
“On the last lap, both Max and Norris could blow an engine.”
Villeneuve’s comments came as a report from CODE Sports lifted the lid on the tense situation at McLaren, including one sight at last weekend’s Qatar Prix that didn’t go unnoticed.
While McLaren’s botched strategy cost Piastri a shot at the win, he still was able to get onto the podium in second place.
However, Piastri was joined by just two members of the McLaren crew in contrast to the dozens that are usually in attendance.
According to the CODE Sports report, Piastri noticed it too and words were exchanged behind closed doors.
One veteran UK reporter told the publication that Piastri’s mistreatment was the worst he’d ever seen towards a top driver, while a F1 insider called the bias against the Australian “unquestionable”.
“It’s disgusting to see what’s happening. It’s like he’s fighting with one arm tied behind his back,” the insider said.
“He’s constantly being undermined by the team.”
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TSUNODA’S DEFIANT MESSAGE AFTER RED BULL AXING
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda sent a defiant message on social media as the Japanese driver broke his silence after being dumped by Red Bull ahead of the 2026 season.
Tsunoda will stay put in Red Bull but only as a test and reserve driver, with French rookie Isack Hadjar to be promoted to the main card to partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
In an Instagram post, Tsunoda declared he is “not finished yet” and that this setback will only make him a better driver as he looks to follow fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo in returning to the grid from a reserve role at Red Bull.
“I’m not finished yet,” Tsunoda wrote.
“Finding out I won’t have a race seat in 2026 was incredibly tough, but I’m determined to work harder than ever with Red Bull as test and reserve driver to develop with the team, and prove I deserve a place on the grid.
“Life’s full of setbacks, and this is mine. It’s not going to deter me from being the best F1 driver I can be.”