Last Updated on October 19 2025, 9:06 pm

Whilst Lando Norris did nothing wrong at the Singapore Grand Prix when passing his team mate into turn three just after the start according to the stewards, McLaren have taken a different point of view and punished their driver.

Piastri looked to make an opportunistic move on Max Verstappen around the outside, opening up space for his team mate on the inside of turn two. Realising the danger, the Australian moved slightly across to counter Norris attack, but was too late. Yet his moved compromised Lando’s line into turn three forcing him across the kerb which made his braking problematic, meaning he touched the Red Bull ahead which bounced him right and he touched Piastri’s car.

The newly crowned constructors’ champions have made a big deal this season about their “papaya rules” which govern the on track combat between their drivers. Yet despite this micro managing of the racing allowed, Zak Brown and Andrea Stella repeat their mantra that their drivers are free to race.

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McLaren ridiculed for micro managing drivers

The paddock opinion of the Singapore minor incident was almost universal in that it was just racing incident, particularly normal amongst the chaos of the first lap of a Grand Prix. Jenson Button said that had a team mate done the same to him he would have merely thought “fair play.”

Yet McLaren appear to have felt it important to review the incident and against the opinion of most F1 analysts have blamed Norris and issued “consequences.” Of corse the team could have remained tight lipped over whether ay action had been taken as they have about the nature of the “consequences,” yet they opened Pandora’s box by admitting Norris had been punished making this the big story at the current US Grand Prix weekend.

Ex-F1 racer Timo Glock who is no stranger to controversy believes McLaren are making a mockery of themselves with the micro management of their drivers via the papaya rules. Speaking to Sky Germany, the former BMW driver pours scorn on McLaren’s behaviour, firstly joking: “Lando’s allowance was cut. He’s been grounded.” Glock continues stating McLaren have just created a drama for no reason at all. “Either state clearly what’s going on, or say nothing at all. They should say, ‘We have our Papaya Rules, whatever they are, and we keep them to ourselves.’ But this ‘yes, there are consequences, but we’re not going to say it,’ is utter nonsense.”

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Vertsappen mocks Mclaren

McLaren’s persistent interference with the drivers saw Piastri told to hand back the place in Monza because Norris had suffered at the hands of the pit crew with a five second delay. Glock believes this internal fiddling could cause McLaren to lose the drivers’ championship to Max Verstappen.

“Max laughs his head off at things like that,” said the German. “He takes it all in stride and thinks to himself, ‘Just argue, I’ll be right there if you crash into each other’s cars again.’ I have no idea what the point of this little drama is to the outside world,” says the F1 world champion.

Much has been said and written this weekend about what McLaren’s “consequences” for Norris will be. Fans are asking on social media if it will prevent him from challenging for the drivers’ title race. When this angle was presented to Zak Brown he realised the team’s faux par admitted in the tea principal’s press conference in Austin, “its a very small thing,” but insisting Norris is allowed to race his team mate.

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Brundle reveals he knows McLaren “consequences”

Martin Brundle was discussing the matter with his co-Sky presenters prior to the Sprint race in front of onlookers in the paddock. He claimed, “in fact I know what the consequences are, its my job to do so,” before he explained its a fairly minor thing but “might come into play in Las Vegas.”

Looking at the remaining tracks on the calendar, Las Vegas has one characteristic only shared by Monza, Spa, possibly Baku and China. The long back straight where the cars experience a slip stream effect, where once closely behind another car, the driver experiences what is often called the tow.

This is an aerodynamic effect where the car in front pushes the air out of the way and the car behind then slips through the gap in the air reduced air pressure. Its similar to the effect of the DRS when opened, allowing reduced ‘drag’ to allow the car to accelerate faster than the one in front.

There are other circuits where there is a slipstream effect, but those listed are configured in such a fashion that they slipstream can be used in qualifying. Ferrari have repeatedly attempted this in Monza qualifying, though getting it wrong has often left them with egg on their faces.

 

 

 

Irony in the Sprint as both McLaren’s out at the start

So its almost certain from Brundle’s comments that Lando has been told he may be requested to give his team mate a tow if the team feel it will help his qualifying lap time. The Vegas tow is contested by F1 analysts with some feeling it may have some effect in qualifying, but less so than say at Monza or Spa.

In 2023, Max Verstappen famously gave his team mate Sergio Perez the tow along with the DRS effect to ensure the second Red Bull driver fended off Charles Leclerc. So the drama McLaren have made this weekend over the mysterious “consequences” for Norris in fact is less than a spa on the wrist. 

Where it could come to hurt the British driver is should he be required to give Piastri the tow in qualifying he may then compromise the optimum tyre use for his own push lap. Yet on ce again McLaren’s obsession with exact and equal treatment for its drivers, for many has made the team look petty and less interested in winning the drivers’ title, rather than ensuring their internal rules are met.

The irony of all this chatter, was at the start of the Sprint both McLaren’s were taken out by Niko Hulkneberg, leaving Verstappen to live rent free in McLaren’s heads as he leads the race and will close the gap by a potential 8 more points.

 

 

Why Cadillac are a true American F1 team and Haas are not

Coming to the US Grand Prix, there were reports that Cadillac would be showing up in some form, yet the newest Formula One team set to debut in 2026 has so far been noticeable by their absence.

Cadillac are marketing themselves as the true American F1 team given Haas F1 squandered their chance to be the US fans favourite. They chose to become an F1 kit car manufacturer buying in European components rather than building their own. Their chassis is built by Italian company Dallara and their power unit and many associated parts come from Ferrari.

There was no attempt by Gene Haas to cross market his team with the NASCAR where he also dashed and any hope of claiming the loyalty of the stars and stripes when they turned up for testing with a livery wrapped as the Russian Federations flag due to tens of millions paid by the team’s Russian title sponsor. If that’s not selling out, what is?…… READ MORE