Fans outraged as McLaren celebrates without championship leader Oscar Piastri
- McLaren Racing secured their second consecutive Constructors' Championship at the Singapore GP, but Oscar Piastri faced a disappointing fourth-place finish due to an early incident with Lando Norris.
- Fans reacted strongly on social media to Piastri being absent from the post-race celebrations, leading to questions about team dynamics and favoritism.
- The team later clarified that Piastri was engaged in media commitments and could not hear congratulatory messages during the celebrations, but he later joined them for the final team picture.
In Singapore, during the recent Formula One race weekend, McLaren Racing secured its second consecutive Constructors' Championship. Oscar Piastri, who leads the Drivers' Championship, faced significant disappointment after finishing in fourth place, just behind his teammate Lando Norris, who finished third. An early collision on the opening lap between Piastri and Norris led to Piastri losing valuable positions, and subsequently, he expressed frustration over team radio, asking if McLaren would intervene to swap positions. While the incident occurred on the high-profile Marina Bay Street Circuit, Piastri's race ended without what many felt should have been a podium finish. Despite his impressive lead in the Drivers' Championship, which stood at 22 points over Norris, Piastri’s omission from the team’s celebratory activities fueled fan outrage on social media. In the aftermath, clips of the team jubilantly celebrating their championship victory without Piastri raised eyebrows, with some fans arguing he deserves a more supportive team environment. Commentators and loyal followers of the sport noted this exclusion, especially when fans highlighted that Piastri was not engaged with the team's celebrations and appeared upset throughout both before and after the event. Team members celebrated fervently in the garage while Piastri attended to his media commitments alone, garnering attention on various social media platforms. Acknowledging this situation, McLaren clarified the circumstances behind Piastri’s absence from the celebrations. They expressed that a celebration for the championship victory was initially not planned, but due to the encouragement from Formula One, they were able to create a gathering to recognize their accomplishment. Moreover, Piastri was reportedly unable to hear team CEO Zak Brown's congratulatory message over the radio immediately after the race, as he had turned off his car while the message was still being broadcast. Team Principal Andrea Stella elaborated on the relationship dynamics between Piastri and Norris, asserting that both drivers were free to race and pursue their aspirations. The McLaren team intends to maintain this open approach in future races, even amidst the competition for the Drivers' Championship. The incident itself provided valuable lessons for the team, and they will aim to adjust strategies moving forward. Piastri’s situation not only reflects his current standings within the team but has also prompted a discussion among fans regarding team management strategies and driver support within McLaren's organizational culture.