The simmering rivalry between Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris has intensified dramatically ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Piastri making a provocative social media move that has set the F1 world abuzz.
The Instagram Incident That Fueled the Fire
As preparations for Saturday night's Las Vegas Grand Prix accelerated, the 24-year-old Melburnian took to Instagram to share an old graphic featuring controversial comments from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The post contained Ecclestone's assertion that McLaren prefers British driver Norris due to his superior "star quality" and marketing appeal.
The explosive quote, originally given to German sports website sport.de, stated clearly: "McLaren prefers the English driver Norris. He has more star quality and marketing appeal for them, has more camera presence and publicity. That's probably why he's better for McLaren."
Although Piastri removed the post after several hours, it remained visible long enough to be captured and circulated widely among Formula 1 fans, creating fresh speculation about deepening tensions within the McLaren garage.
Norris Responds to Booing Controversy
The social media drama comes at a critical juncture in the championship battle, with Norris holding a 24-point advantage over Piastri heading into the final three races of the season. The British driver arrives in Las Vegas riding a wave of momentum after consecutive victories from pole position in Mexico and Brazil.
However, Norris has faced increasingly vocal criticism from fans who perceive McLaren showing favouritism toward him. The 24-year-old has been met with boos during recent podium appearances, though he remains defiant about the negative reception.
"I see (the boos) as a good thing," Norris told reporters ahead of Saturday's race on the Las Vegas Strip. "It is like you finally feel like you're doing something right. Max (Verstappen) got a lot of boos in previous years. He doesn't get any boos now, he actually gets the most cheers."
Norris made it clear that fan disapproval wouldn't distract him from his championship pursuit, stating emphatically: "If I win and I get them, I couldn't care less."
Origins of the Perceived Favouritism
The current wave of fan discontent traces back to September's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Piastri was controversially ordered to let Norris pass after the British driver lost position due to a slow pit stop. The team decision proved particularly damaging for Piastri, whose form has been inconsistent in the races since.
Norris was quick to distance himself from the controversial team order, explaining: "I know some of the reasons (for the boos), and it's more because of some of the situations that have happened this year, which I've not asked for. Like Monza, for example. That's a team decision. I didn't come on the radio and say: 'Hey, can we do this?' I had nothing to do with it."
The British driver, who topped the timesheets in Thursday's second practice session, maintained his focus remains squarely on the championship battle. "There is no point getting excited about winning the title, thinking about it, dreaming about it, because for me it still feels quite far away," Norris cautioned.
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix marking the beginning of the season's climax, the internal dynamics at McLaren have become as compelling as the championship fight itself, creating a dramatic backdrop for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the F1 season.
