Oscar Piastri Refuses to Play No. 2 as McLaren Weighs Backing Lando Norris for the F1 Title

The dominance of McLaren Racing in the current F1 season has been nothing short of impressive. Blunders aside, their run has been nothing short of a masterclass on how a team should compete in F1. And the flagbearers of the papaya army – Oscar Pisatri and Lando Norris are both favorites in this year’s title contention.

However, the team’s grip over the points has loosened a bit in the last few weeks, and four-time champion Max Verstappen is now closer to the McLaren stars than ever. Amidst the Dutchman’s threat over the title, Piastri recently explained the situation in the McLaren camp and the dynamics of the team with each driver.

What Happened With Oscar Piastri And Lando Norris At Las Vegas

After two wins and two podium finishes in four outings, when Norris headed to Las Vegas, fans had big expectations for the McLaren star. Similarly, for Piastri, he had many eyes on him as he defended his position in the title race against Verstappen and his teammate.

While it was going well for McLaren Racing till the very end, where Norris grabbed the second spot while Piastri came fourth, that was until the post-race inspection began. Upon discovering the skid-plank wear on both cars was below F1’s acceptable limits, both cars were disqualified from the contest.

While it affected both drivers when they were stripped of their points from the Las Vegas GP, it stung Norris more than Piastri. The British driver, with his podium finish, had formed a points cushion that might have just been enough to cruise him towards the championship. However, the DSQ tag meant Norris would have to fight harder to win the title.

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Similarly, for Piastri, the disqualification also affected his position in the points table. Norris still sits at the top of the table with 390 points. Piastri sits second with 366 points, the same as Verstappen, who saw a leap in his tally after his Las Vegas win.

Piastri’s Blunt Admission Of The Dynamics At McLaren Racing

Now, while the Verstappen threat is looming heavily on the McLaren camp, the dynamic in the team has flipped a bit as well. Piastri, who was the favorite to win the title for McLaren, has suddenly shifted a tier below in the last few weeks, and Norris has become the more dominant force in the team.

The shift in the power dynamic also led many to question whether McLaren was backing Norris more strongly than Piastri for the championship win. Ahead of the Qatar GP, when Piastri faced the cameras, he addressed Verstappen’s threat to the team’s title aspirations.

Along with this, the Australian even touched upon the dynamics in the McLaren dressing room. When asked if the team favored Norris over him, he said, “We’ve had a very brief discussion and the answer is no.”

📰 Oscar says McLaren studied the idea of favouring Lando in the title fight:

“We’ve had a very brief discussion and the answer is no. I’m still equal on points with Max and got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way. That’s how we play it.”#QatarGP pic.twitter.com/fumlri0Csq

— آري (@laurogeitabat) November 27, 2025

He then acknowledged the shape of the points table and continued, “I’m still equal on points with Max and got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way. That’s how we play it.”

While the Las Vegas disqualifications altered Norris’ hopes of swiftly clinching the title, they have also kept the excitement in the sport alive as the McLaren stars chase their maiden title and Verstappen eyes his fifth.