“They were not fair to me!”: Piastri criticizes McLaren for partiality and lack of ethics in Formula 1

Formula 1 has always been a high competition scenario, where speed, strategy and teamwork converge to define the champions. However, after Great Britain’s Grand Prix in Silverstone, a controversy has shaken the paddock, focusing on the McLaren team and its star pilot, Oscar Piastri. The Australian, leader of the pilot championship, did not hide his frustration after the race, stating with forcefulness: “They were not fair to me!” His criticisms directly point to the strategic decisions of the team, which, according to him, have favored their partner Lando Norris, unleashing a debate about ethics in the papaya team and its priorities in the fight for the title.

The incident that unleashed the controversy occurred during the race in Silverstone, marked by changing climatic conditions and multiple interruptions by the security car. Piastri, who led the race, received a penalty of 10 seconds for a maneuver considered “erratic” after abruptly stopping on the Hangar line, which forced Max Verstappen to perform an evasive action to avoid a collision. The penalty, which Piastri fulfilled in his stop in Boxes in Tour 43, cost him the victory, which finally went to Norris. However, what most outraged the Australian was not only the sanction, but what he perceived as an unequal treatment by McLaren, especially in the allocation of technical resources such as the improvements in the suspension, designed for months and destined, according to him, to give Norris an advantage.

Piastri did not hesitate to express his frustration when he got off his car. “It seems that you can no longer stop behind the security car. I had done five laps before without problems, but this time they penalized me. I will not say much more because I would get into trouble, but I do not think the sanction has been fair,” he said with a contained tone but loaded with disappointment. His most shocking message came by radio at the end of the race, when he suggested the team to allow an exchange of positions with Norris to correct what he considered an injustice. “I know it is an important order, but if you do not think it was fair, we should change position and run,” said the Australian, aware that his request was more an act of challenge than a realistic expectation.

The team director, Andrea Stella, responded to Pastri’s criticism, defending McLaren’s position. According to Stella, the sanction was “very hard” and did not take into account factors such as the late withdrawal of the security car or the conditions of the track. “We believe that the right thing was to discuss the situation after the race, reviewing in detail the opinions of the pilots involved. Oscar expressed his opinion, which we value, because we always encourage our pilots to say what they think,” Stella explained. However, the Italian made it clear that the team decided not to alter the order of the race, arguing that, when changing to dry tires, it was fair to maintain the “natural order” after the sanction.

The controversy does not end on the track. According to sources close to the team, McLaren has been allocating significant resources to optimize the Norris car, especially with regard to suspension improvements that have been tested from the Canada Grand Prix. These updates, developed for two and a half months, would have given Norris an advantage in terms of stability and speed in curves, something that Piastri has felt as a lack of equity. A user on platform X pointed out this disparity, stating that “McLaren has prioritized Norris to the detriment of Piastri from Canada, focusing the technical improvements only in his car.” Although this information has not been officially confirmed, it has fueled speculation about possible favoritism within the team.

The background of this situation is not new. Since his arrival in McLaren in 2023, after a controversial exit from Alpine, Piastri has proven to be a fierce competitor, but also a pilot who values transparency and equity. His signing by McLaren, which unleashed a legal battle with Alpine, had already questioned his “integrity” according to the then head of Alpine, Otmar Szafnauer. However, McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, came out in defense of Piastri at that time, questioning Szafnauer’s credibility and highlighting the clarity of the Australian contract with McLaren. “There was no case. We had a valid contract, registered in the CRB in July, and everything was clear,” Brown said in 2022, in a statement that resonated at the Paddock.

The relationship between Piastri and Norris has been one of McLaren’s strengths. Both pilots have maintained a dynamic of mutual respect, backed by the “papaya rules” of the team, which allow to compete on the track as long as it does not harm collective interests. However, incidents such as Norris’s clash against Piastri in Canada or the aggressive Piastri maneuver in curve 4 in Austria have tested this harmony. Brown, at a recent press conference, insisted that both pilots can fight for the title and remain friends. “The relationship between them is fantastic. They have shown that they can compete hard, but clean, and I think they will continue to be good companions,” he said.

Despite Brown’s words, the situation in Silverstone has left a brand in Piastri. His quiet character, nicknamed some such as the “Australian silent murderer,” gave way to an unusual sample of contained fury. Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle summarized it perfectly: “It is the first time we see Oscar’s furious side. That competitive fire has always been there, but now we have seen it in living flesh.” This episode has revealed the determination of Piastri for not giving in its struggle for the championship, even if that means facing its own team.

With the Formula 1 season reaching its Ecuador, McLaren leads the Constructors Championship with 460 points, far ahead of Ferrari and Mercedes. Piastri, with 216 points, maintains an advantage of 15 over Norris in the pilot championship, but internal tension could complicate things. The next race in Spa-Francorchamps, on July 27, will be crucial to see if McLaren manages to balance his efforts between both pilots or if Pastri’s criticisms will force the team to rethink their strategy.

Pastri’s case not only question McLaren’s decisions, but also poses broader questions about ethics in Formula 1. To what extent should one team prioritize one pilot over another? Is it fair that technical improvements benefit one more than the other in the fight for the title? The answer is not simple, but what is clear is that Piastri is not willing to remain silent. His courage to raise his voice, even knowing that his request would not be accepted, demonstrates that the Australian is not only a talent on the track, but also a competitor who demands respect and equity. While the season progresses, all eyes will be put in McLaren to see how they handle this internal storm and if they manage to maintain unity on their way to success.