Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri can hardly be noticed the joy of winning the constructor title with McLaren. The two teammates are becoming more and more fierce rivals in the World Cup fight.
Even before the subdued party on Sunday (October 5th, 2025) in Singapore on the occasion of the new triumph, team boss Andrea Stella prescribed by the designers of his pilots Oscar Piatri and Lando Norris, which was heated after the start collision. “We will see if we can learn something and be upset. That will be good conversations”said Stella.
Irritated mood
But the mood was severely irritated six races ago before the end of the season. A video showed World Cup leaders Piatri, who stops the radio and get out of the car during Team Boss Zak Brown’s acceptance speech. McLaren Härig said that the Australian had already identified his car beforehand and therefore did not hear Brown’s words. But the debates about the disturbed team harmony had long since recorded.
“The main thing is that the two cars have collided. We never want that, so we have to look at it in detail”Piatri warned. The scene of the kick -off had occurred shortly after the start, when Norris first attempted the overtaking Red Bull Touched by world champion Max Verstappen and then touched Piatris Auto.
Tirades on the radio
“Everyone in the driver’s field would have done the same”Norris defiantly replied the boring questions about it and added: “So if you accuse me of having brought the car into a big gap, you shouldn’t be in Formula 1.” Piatri saw it differently and had already made it clear during the race with scolding tirades on the radio. “It’s just not fair”the 24-year-old let the command stand know. The Englishman had to return the place because of his boarding, Piatri asked the radio – and was not heard.
McLaren driver Oscar Piatri at the GP in Singapore
Verstappen also mixes with
Because Norris did not have to return third place to Piatri and came closer to his stable stable rival in the end of the overall rating by three points to 22 points (336: 314). The title race further heats up the title race that defending champion Verstappen (273 points) after the two wins in Monza and Baku in Singapore ended up in front of both McLaren. The Swiss “Blick” already recognized one “McLaren nerve flutter”.
The discussion about the starting incident meets the racing team at a delicate point, its “papaya rules” named according to the team color. The drivers should therefore be able to fight for victories as long as they do not get in the way.
Max Verstappen (left) and Lando Norris in Singapore.
Piatri feels treated unfairly
The McLaren leadership reached twice this year, each in favor of Norris. In Hungary, thanks to a changed pit strategy, he came past Piatri and won. In Monza, Piatri had to let his colleagues pass again after the pit crew had blamed the tire change from Norris.
The fact that Norris was not whistled back in Singapore is obviously burdening Piatris confidence in internal equal treatment.
Form crisis at the wrong time
Of all things, McLaren is also fighting with a form crisis. There has been no victory for three races, the competition has opened up. With a view to the large standard reform next year, McLaren has almost set development work on the current car.
Others, such as Red Bull, brought new components to Singapore. In addition, as a team champion, McLaren can use the fewest time in the wind tunnel in accordance with the rules.
Excitement in the end of the season
The last weeks of the season could therefore become the ultimate test for the “papaya rule” for the industry leader. “We have to be very accurate because a lot is at stake. Not just World Cup points, but the trust of our drivers in the way we work as a team. And that is more fundamental than the points”emphasized team boss Stella.