McLaren’s ‘unforgivable’ reaction to Oscar Piastri podium as his camp reacts to Qatar blunder

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri watched his championship chances almost certainly go up in smoke on lap seven of the Qatar Grand Prix.

After producing a perfect weekend after facing months of questions about his form, Oscar Piastri looked devastated as he had to settle for second place at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Martin Brundle commented that Piastri was ‘broken’ during his post-race interview, and now needs an extremely unlikely set of events to win the 2025 drivers’ championship after being in a commanding position two-thirds of the way through the season.

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McLaren did not come out of the Qatar Grand Prix positively, and Andrea Stella and Zak Brown’s immediate reaction to the race ending was telling.

Piastri has former Red Bull driver Mark Webber and his wife, Ann, in his camp, and both would have been watching on in horror as the Australian only led his teammate around the circuit on lap eight after Max Verstappen and virtually every other car pitted.

Photographer Kym Illman was in the Lusail paddock and spotted not only Webber’s post-race reaction, but the ‘unforgivable’ way the McLaren team reacted to Piastri finishing second.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri after getting out of his car at the 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix — Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images

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Illman was speaking on his YouTube channel after the race, and explaining what he saw outside McLaren’s hospitality, he said: “I spoke to some of his inner sanctum tonight in the paddock after the race, and it was very clear that there is tension between Oscar and his entourage and the McLaren team.

“And you only had to have a look at Oscar’s Instagram post tonight after the race to realise something is wrong. A simple picture of him on the podium, and not a happy shot, and no caption, no words whatsoever.

“He’s left it up to us to work out what he’s feeling, and I can tell you he’s not happy. I was at the front of the McLaren hospitality suite tonight for some time, and one thing that got my full attention was Zak Brown making a beeline for the TV media pen.

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Oscar Piastri couldn’t believe his luck at the end of the Qatar Grand Prix. Do you think he can still win the championship?

“Yeah, clearly we didn’t get it right tonight. I drove the best race that I could, the fastest that I could. There was nothing left out there. I’ve tried my best but it wasn’t to be tonight, unfortunately.

“I think in hindsight, it is pretty obvious what we would have done. I am sure we will discuss it as a team.

“Yep, I mean it is not all bad obviously. It has been a really good weekend, the pace has been very strong but it is a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.”
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s reaction to the Qatar Grand Prix

“It’s only a walk of 30 metres, but he went with purpose at speed, went into the media pen, pulled Oscar away from an interview, gave him a hug, congratulated him in front of the media, and then headed back to the hospitality suite.

“And at that time, I wondered, was that a PR stunt? Was that something to show that the team is united? Because they’re not.

“On the way back from the media pen, Zak had to walk past Mark Webber, who was dining with Oscar Piastri’s dad, Chris.

“And I haven’t got a photo of this, but you’ll trust me when I say he gave Zak a very icy look.”

McLaren’s ‘unforgivable’ reaction to Oscar Piastri finishing on the podium at the Qatar Grand Prix

Illman then noticed something when Piastri was preparing to go onto the podium and continued: “Let me talk briefly about Parc Ferme. Oscar got out of his car, having finished second, threw his gloves in anger and then went looking for his crew, but they weren’t there.

“Why weren’t they there? Well, maybe a couple were, but certainly second [place] would normally warrant a number of your crew being there to help celebrate.

“Carlos Sainz had almost all of his side of the garage at Parc Ferme to meet him post-race.

“I think it’s almost unforgivable to think that you don’t bring your crew down to celebrate with your driver.”

Finish the sentence: In 2027, Oscar Piastri will be driving for…

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri being interviewed at the 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix — Photo by Mahmud HAMS / AFP via Getty Images

The focus in Qatar should have been on Verstappen closing in on an impossible comeback or Carlos Sainz securing his second podium of the season for Williams.

Instead, Stella was asked if Piastri would support Norris in Abu Dhabi to help get the drivers’ championship over the line for either McLaren driver.

It’s a situation that no one wants to be in, and with Piastri linked with Ferrari among other teams, it wouldn’t be a surprise if those rumours intensified after a shambolic end to what should have been a comfortable campaign for the Woking-based outfit.

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