McLaren were ‘pretty upset’ with F1’s management after facing Oscar Piastri ‘PR’ problem in Singapore

Follow us on Google Discover

McLaren won the constructors’ title at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend. But that achievement has rather been overshadowed by a dispute with championship leader Oscar Piastri.

It’s the first time McLaren have retained their crown since 1991, when Ayrton Senna was driving for the team. With six rounds to spare, it’s one of the most emphatic triumphs in F1 history.

But F1 fans tend to be more interested in the outcome of the drivers’ title battle, and there was another twist at Marina Bay. Though Piastri only lost three points to Lando Norris, he was expressly unhappy with the team’s response to an aggressive lap-one move from the Briton.

Piastri felt Norris should hand the place back, according to the team rules, after making contact as he tried to pass. McLaren elected not to make the swap, and the Australian said they weren’t treating him fairly.

McLaren were ‘upset’ over PR damage after Oscar Piastri missed podium celebration

The optics after the race were awkward for McLaren. Team members were invited onto the podium to celebrate their coronation, with third-place finisher Norris joining Zak Brown and Andrea Stella.

But Piastri (P4) was conspicuous by his absence. It was simply an issue of timing as he carried out his mandatory media duties.

But McLaren were ‘pretty upset’ by the PR damage, and the situation could perhaps have been avoided with clearer communication about F1’s plans. Mathematically, it was almost certain that the championship would be sealed on Sunday.

Perhaps F1 management should have been explicit that both drivers were invited to take part, even if that meant arriving in the media pen later than usual.

• READ MORE: Juan Pablo Montoya tells Oscar Piastri how he acted like a ‘fool’ in ‘crazy’ Lando Norris collision

“Not having the flexibility – either from F1’s side or McLaren’s side – to let Piastri up there was strange,” Nate Saunders said on the ESPN Unlapped podcast.

“McLaren were pretty upset with how it looked from a PR perspective. They realised immediately what it would look like.

“It’s a classic thing isn’t it? As much as they did have that celebration in the paddock afterwards, no-one saw that.”

Mark Webber must put his personal feelings about Oscar Piastri incident aside

Mark Webber has had an ‘incredible’ impact on Piastri but he’s facing the biggest test of his management yet. After a disastrous weekend Baku, it was a case of picking the 24-year-old up.

Now, he has to channel his emotions in the right way. One can speculate about Webber’s feelings on the Singapore incident, but it’s important that any frustration doesn’t bleed into Piastri’s driving in the United States.

Speaking to Natalie Pinkham earlier this year, Webber said Piastri ‘doesn’t overthink things’. That has helped him build a reputation as a pressure-resistant driver.

But with a first world championship so tantalisingly close, it would only be human for Piastri to have some nagging doubts about McLaren’s support. The team maintain that both drivers have equal opportunity, and they can justify each action they’ve taken despite the internal and external controversy.