McLaren F1 have won their first back to back constructors’ title since 1991, yet at the podium celebrations Oscar Piastri was conspicuous by his absence. The Australian used his FIA mandated media duties to excuse himself from the victorious moment as his team mate joined in the champagne moment.
In Azerbaijan, Alex Albon delayed his media obligations to celebrate Carlos Sainz third place presentation, but Piastri was clearly upset even turning off his team radio whilst CEO Zak Brown was thanking him for his efforts in bringing the championship back to Woking.
The Australian has been on the wrong end of the team’s “papaya rules” which seek to ensure fairness to both of its drivers. In Monza he was asked to give the place back to his team mate when Norris suffered a failed wheel gun during his pitstop meaning he was stationary for almost five seconds.
Piastri loses his cool
When instructed to relinquish the position in Italy, Piastri complained the matter had been discussed previously and should be considered as “part of racing.” He was further discontent with the team when he was awarded a ten second penalty which McLaren felt was unfair in Silverstone but the team refused to sanction Norris team order.
Piastri was slated by pundits for his request given the error was made by the driver forcing the penalty and Mike Hezemans, a Dutch endurance driver and F1 pundit was scathing of the Aussies petition. “I think it’s very stupid of Piastri to do it like that,” he said.
“What I found really ridiculous, and also a bit weak, was the radio from Piastri to the team,” Hezemans added. “Come on. I understand it because, of course, you try everything. But I thought it was a bit of a sign of weakness. Just try to drive away those 10 seconds and then do everything. It is what it is.”
Following his win in Zandvoort after the F1 summer break, Oscar Piastri was 34 points clear of his closest rival and team mate Lando Norris. Yet the last three times out he has finished behind his team mate and the gap has been reduced to just 22 points with 174 remaining in six Grand Prix and three Sprint races.
The pressure mounts on the Aussie star
The Aussie star appears to be in a downward spiral and his cool, calm and collected demeanour shattered. Clearly the lifetime achievement of becoming the F1 drivers’ champion is getting to Piastri, despite the calming influence of his mentor and manager Mark Webber.
There are those who believe the McLaren management favours Norris for the drivers’ championship this season, given his longevity with the team when they were merely a midfield outfit. By comparison Piastri s the new kid on the block, just in his third season since McLaren poached him from under Alpine’s nose.
Both Norris and Piastri are nailed on to drive for McLaren next season and the biggest car design and power unit rule change in F1 history may upset the current pecking order. The Piastri camp has leaked to Swiss news outlet Blick, that he may be looking for a move in 2027.
Red Bull set to poach McLaren talent
Horner rated Piastri as Verstappen replacement
Despite his wearisome complaints over team radio, Oscar is highly rated in many team bosses eyes as Christian Horner revealed before his departure from Red Bull. When pressed on whether the team would go outside their pool of junior drivers to solve the perennial problem of the second seat at Red Bull, Horner indicated he would for the right driver.
The then Red Bull boss went further as speculation Verstappen would leave the team was presented to him. His number one target he said would be “Oscar Piastri” before adding the caveat that he didn’t believe Max was going anywhere.
Rattled by a string of decisions they believe have favoured Norris, the Piastri camp has now leaked the fact that the Australian is looking elsewhere for his F1 future. The report from Blick suggests a well vaunted story, that Charles Leclerc will leave Ferrari should they fail again to deliver a winning car in 2026.
Finally some F1 spice as McLaren hit back at Marko accusations
Piastri camp suggest he’s looking at another team
Hamilton too has been said to have considered retirement in 2027, should the Scuderia continue their shambolic efforts. He has an option to extend his deal with the iconic Italian team for that season, although his options elsewhere are believed to be limited.
The Swiss publication suggests that Piastri has “already set his sights on Ferrari for 2027,” and Lewis Hamilton has spoken favourably about the talents of the young Australian.
Speaking to GPBlog earlier this season Hamilton admitted: “I don’t know him a huge amount. We sometimes talk a little bit on the parades, but he’s always been very easy to approach, easy to speak to. He’s clearly a nice lad.
“I think the job he’s doing is fantastic. It’s mega for me to see McLaren doing so well, because that’s where I started, and also to see them so close, him and Lando, two great drivers, the pressure on both of them will be unimaginable, I would say, for most people who are not experiencing it, and who have not experienced it.
Brundle reveals things he heard from Horner
Hamilton praises Oscar over Lando
“We’ve seen both, and obviously, particularly Oscar, doing a great, great job weekend in, weekend out, delivering, qualifying, and everything you need to do to win a world championship.”
Whilst the wheels may be coming of Piastri’s battle with Norris for the drivers’ title race this season, he is clearly rated by even the most successful F1 competitor in history. Further, expectations for 2026 are that the works teams of Mercedes and Aston Martin are favourites to ace the new regulations whilst McLaren’s day in the sun may be coming to an end.
To this end Piastri is wise to consider his options, and the leaks from his management team regarding the matter should be expected if they feel Norris is favoured over their man.
Piastri snubs Zak Brown and avoids McLaren celebrations
The McLaren F1 love in is over. Once the team realised they were the dominant force in Formula One the decision was made to enforce ‘papaya rules’ intended to prevent the kind of chaos Mercedes suffered during the Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg days.
The Mercedes civil war began in 2014 when after spending an eye watering $1bn in R&D for the new hybrid power units, the team realised they had build the most dominant car/engine power unit in the history of the sport. One or their drivers would clearly win the championship and so battle commenced.
It all kicked off in Spa in 2014, when Nico Rosberg ran into Lewis Hamilton in a championship season where the title race went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. Despite being childhood friends, Rosberg and Hamilton became the best of enemies and their bitter rivalry enthralled fans for three seasons before the German driver decided to retire….. READ MORE
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No doubt released by that loser Webber
You mean nine time loser Webber. He’s copped the no.2 treatment rubbish don’t forget. I hope Max can sneak the WDC actually. Papaya will turn a sickly shade of green having backed the loser LN. What an embarrassment that would be.
No doubt another article by a Pommy. If you go back through all the radio messages of both McLaren drivers since Oscar joined them you will see that the only real whinging has come from Norris. Piastri only comments/complains on what is fair under the papaya rules, rules that only seem to apply in Norris’s favour. Yet Norris gets on the radio to cry for help every time he is getting outdone by Piastri. Norris the little cry baby has even done it during practice sessions and qualifying. I can’t recall Piastri getting on the radio once to cry to his team that he needs help to be better than his team mate. Norris even had to get Piastri to give him a tow to make Q3.
No doubt another article by a Pommy. If you go back through all the radio messages of both McLaren drivers since Oscar joined them you will see that the only real whinging has come from Norris. Piastri only comments/complains on what is fair under the papaya rules, rules that only seem to apply in Norris’s favour. Yet Norris gets on the radio to cry for help every time he is getting outdone by Piastri. Norris the little cry baby has even done it during practice sessions and qualifying. I can’t recall Piastri getting on the radio once to cry to his team that he needs help to be better than his team mate. Norris even had to get Piastri to give him a tow to make Q3.
I agree with the above comments 100%
Oscar is by far the best driver, and by far the nicest , most competent driver.
OSCAR FOR 2025 F1 CHAMPION 🏆