Oscar Piastri has rejected suggestions McLaren favour Lando Norris after a run of incidents that left some fans questioning team calls — and McLaren’s senior figures have been equally blunt in denying any bias. With four races left and just one point between the pair, the team says it is working flat-out to give both drivers an equal shot at the title.
Piastri: “No favouritism or bias”
Piastri has faced questions about whether recent events — notably in Italy and Hungary — have gone Norris’s way. He was asked directly in Austin and replied he was “very happy that there’s no favouritism or bias.” Team CEO Zak Brown has echoed that line, branding the notion “nonsense” and urging fans not to jump to conclusions.
Brown and McLaren explain the incidents
Brown acknowledged the optics of the Hungary and Monza episodes but explained both were complex race situations, not deliberate team preference. He said the Hungary one-stop was a “free punt” that almost nobody on the pit wall expected to work, while Monza — where Piastri was asked to cede position after a slow pit stop — mirrored previous team orders that have gone either way. Brown said the team has tried to protect both drivers and that outsiders do not see all the context.
Different tracks, different demands on drivers
McLaren and Piastri admit the recent dip is not simply about team dynamics. Andrea Stella highlighted low-grip conditions in Austin and Mexico that require a different driving technique; Piastri confirmed he’s needed “something very different” to the way he has driven successfully across most of the season. The team says they have identified car setup and driving adjustments to help Oscar adapt.
As the championship heads into its final four races, McLaren’s message is clear: they are trying to give both drivers equal opportunity and let them fight it out on merit.
Discussion about this post