McLaren’s lingering issue after ‘unacceptable’ act condemned Piastri

McLaren made sure to deliver a very public dressing down to their drivers after their costly last-lap collision in the Singapore sprint race on Saturday.

Team principal Andrea Stella was less than impressed to see reigning champion Lando Norris lunging for a gap up the inside of Oscar Piastri, branding the move “unacceptable” and promising that both drivers would be punished.

“I worked with top drivers for so many seasons that I know that, with drivers, there’s always a degree of unpredictability, let me say,” Stella said.

“I am, if anything, disappointed.”

Although the FIA stewards deemed neither driver wholly responsible for the tangle, it cost Piastri a finishing place and Norris finished in eighth.

Instead of coasting to a comfortable fifth and sixth, McLaren walked away with one singular point.

“Disappointed as a team principal for a situation that is absolutely not acceptable, because it caused ... damage to the team, and every member of the team knows that the team interest comes before any personal interest,” Stella continued.

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“It is unacceptable, the glass (isn’t) half full by saying that we want to turn the situation into something from which we learn.

“There isn’t at all. The glass is empty, because when two McLarens make contact in that way and cause a material damage, there’s a significant flaw.”

Norris’ initial inflammatory response to defend his costly mistake was a bold choice for the driver.

In a now viral video, Norris was snappy at a journalist’s questioning when asked if the collision with Piastri for fourth place in Saturday’s sprint was unnecessary given that they were teammates.

“What, to go for a big gap? Or overtake?” Norris asked.

“What’s the title of the race? Sprint ... what’s after sprint?”

When the reporter replied “race”, Norris sarcastically replied, “Wow, good job. Yeah, it’s race!”

But after some intense backlash online for his sarcastic remarks and his team’s fury, Norris changed his tune on Sunday, apologising to the team for the move that stole nine easy points from them.

"It's pretty straightforward. I can't attempt what I did," Norris said.

“I should never have attempted it in the first place, even if the move was on. I ... have to think more of the team that I represent than myself. It was a mistake on my part and I let down the team.

"I've also apologised to all of them and I owe them all an apology. We'll do better next time."

McLaren’s anger is justified by the narrow margins in the fight for the constructors’ championship.

There is now only seven points between the papaya team, who sit in third and Red Bull in fourth in the standings.

Max Verstappen has won the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore and the Red Bull upgrade looks to have put the team in serious contention.

McLaren’s championship dominance in 2025 feels like a distant memory as they stare down the barrel of slipping behind Red Bull in the final stages of the season.

This petty spat between drivers lost them valuable points to a resurgent team and it’s no surprise that McLaren had a problem with Norris’ sarcastic remarks to deflect from accepting responsibility.

“It is serious,” said Stella of the event.

“It is serious because the damage for the team is material, we are in a close fight in the championship. We had the ambition to challenge Ferrari, and this is a problem in the challenge to the second position,” he said.

“And we have an ambition to finish ahead of Red Bull, and this is a problem to finish ahead of Red Bull.”

McLaren heads home to lick their wounds after salvaging fourth and fifth place finishes in Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.

The Marina Bay circuit has not been a happy hunting ground for Norris and Piastri’s team relationship.

In 2025, Norris similarly forced his way past his Aussie teammate, on the opening lap of the grand prix that time, leaving Piastri fuming over the radio.

Formula 1 has a one-week break before returning to the track in Texas for the United States Grand Prix on October 26.