Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 supremo, has doubled down on his stance that McLaren \u201cfavours\u201d Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n
Ecclestone believes it is better for McLaren from a \u201cmarketing\u201d standpoint if Norris becomes world champion, with Piastri<\/a> getting \u201cupset and tired\u201d about the \u2018papaya rules\u2019 of engagement talk.<\/p>\n Bernie Ecclestone: Oscar Piastri \u2018frustrated\u2019<\/p>\n After Norris\u2019 retirement late in the Dutch Grand Prix, Piastri became the overwhelming favourite for the F1 2025 title. He had moved 34 points clear out front, and was racing with his trademark unflappable aura shining. But, the road since has been bumpy for the Australian title hopeful.<\/p>\n The pressure only ramped up further after Mexico as Norris returned to the top of the championship for the first time since Saudi Arabia. Piastri managed P7 only on the grid, and crossed the line P5, his pace having deserted him in Mexico City as Norris took a dominant win.<\/p>\n That only further fuelled the unsubstantiated claims doing the rounds on social media, ones which claim Norris is the driver which McLaren wants to win the title.<\/p>\n Ecclestone already gave his approval<\/a> to the conspiracy theory earlier in the season, and in a new RTL\/ntv and sport.de interview, doubled down on his stance.<\/p>\n Ecclestone suggested that McLaren has \u201cslowed the Australian down more often using various means,\u201d adding: \u201cMcLaren favours the English driver Norris.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has more star and marketing qualities for them, has more camera presence and publicity. That\u2019s probably why it\u2019s better for McLaren.\u201d<\/p>\n More on the title showdown from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0How potential engine grid penalties could play a decisive role in the F1 title race<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Does McLaren actually want to win the drivers\u2019 title?<\/a><\/p>\n In addition, Ecclestone claims that Piastri is \u201cupset and tired\u201d over McLaren\u2019s \u2018papaya rules\u2019 and that \u201cdiscussions about it annoy him\u201d, Ecclestone suggesting that Piastri is the driver to suffer.<\/p>\n Papaya rules is a term first introduced into Formula 1 by McLaren, which has evolved into a generalised term for how they govern wheel-to-wheel combat between Norris and Piastri. Hard, but fair and clean racing is the modus operandi, but McLaren\u2019s use of team orders to maintain fairness between their drivers has at times sparked favouritism talk.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pressure is mounting, and Piastri is frustrated that he can no longer win races so easily and that Norris is obviously favoured within the team,\u201d Ecclestone concluded.<\/p>\n No room for Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri favouritism now<\/p>\n The talk of favouritism within McLaren struggles to pull its weight under examination. McLaren has in fact tied itself in knots at times trying to create a level playing field for Piastri and Norris to battle over the Drivers\u2019 crown<\/a>.<\/p>\n But, McLaren at this stage has no choice but to be impartial. The gap between Norris and Piastri is just one point, and by allowing their drivers to race, rather than call off Norris\u2019 hopes, the door has been re-opened for Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n With four rounds to go in F1 2025, the title fight has evolved into a three-horse race, with no driver out of the trio emerging as the most likely contender. Piastri is out of form, Norris still needs to prove that he can string performances like Mexico together under such pressure, and Verstappen cannot afford any setbacks from here.<\/p>\n For McLaren to give up on fairness now, and try to move one driver into the No.2 role, would not only reflect badly on the team, but also appear illogical with Norris and Piastri having converged in the title fight.<\/p>\n Irk one driver, and the on-track skirmishes may become a bit more, severe. Perfect for Verstappen, who is looking to swoop in to deny McLaren the title double which looked guaranteed just a few months ago.<\/p>\n What a conclusion to the F1 2025 title fight we have on our hands!<\/p>\n