McLaren wrapped up another milestone night in Singapore, clinching back-to-back constructors’ titles, but the celebration arrived with a sting: a first-lap clash between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri that sparked debate across the paddock and beyond.
The opening-lap incident that lit the fuse
On lap one at Turn 3, Norris dived up the inside of Max Verstappen and team-mate Piastri. After “misjudging” his gap to the Red Bull, Norris clipped Verstappen and was then sent into the sister McLaren, costing Piastri his P3 starting position. The FIA saw nothing worth investigating, and the team opted not to issue orders.
Piastri voiced clear frustration over the radio, while Norris doubled down post-race: “Anyone on the grid would have done exactly the same thing… if you fault me for just going up the inside and putting my car on the inside of a big gap, then yeah, I think you shouldn’t be in Formula 1.”
Piastri’s ‘radio cut’ clip clarified
A viral clip showing Piastri appearing to disconnect his steering wheel mid-message as Zak Brown thanked him post-race sent social media into a spin. McLaren clarified the situation: the car was already shut down and Piastri never heard the message.
Writers weigh in: was Piastri right to be annoyed?
The incident drew column inches and podcast minutes in equal measure. Opinion pieces asked whether Piastri had grounds to feel aggrieved at both Norris’s move and McLaren’s non-intervention, while others argued it was hard racing with minimal grounds for blame. The consensus? A title fight within a title-winning team will always test the limits of “equal treatment.”
Norris vs Piastri: the title fight gets needle
The dynamic has sharpened. Norris finished third, Piastri fourth, and the Australian’s championship lead was trimmed to 22 points with six rounds remaining. McLaren’s commitment to let them race will be increasingly scrutinized as the stakes rise and the margins shrink.
Meanwhile, a team title secured
Amid the intra-team tension, McLaren sealed a second consecutive constructors’ crown — their first back-to-back since 1991 — a credit to a relentlessly consistent season. “Such a team effort,” Zak Brown said, praising the entire McLaren family on and off track.
Key takeaways
- Lap 1 clash: Norris clipped Verstappen, then bumped Piastri; no investigation, no team orders.
- Norris unapologetic; Piastri unhappy but focused on the bigger picture.
- Viral ‘radio cut’ explained: Piastri’s car was already off.
- Constructors’ title: McLaren secures back-to-back crowns.
- Championship picture: Piastri’s lead trimmed to 22 points, six rounds to go.
