Australian Media Criticizes McLaren Over Perceived 'Norris Bias' Following Piastri's Title Defeat
Australian TV has again accused McLaren of favoring Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri, suggesting team bias contributed to Piastri's 13-point deficit in the drivers' championship. The narrative, which has reached the Australian Senate, resurfaced in post-season segments, putting McLaren's internal parity under continued scrutiny.
Australian media has reignited criticism of McLaren, suggesting the team favored Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri in the 2024 title fight. The narrative, which has even been discussed in the Australian Senate, resurfaced in TV segments following Piastri's narrow 13-point defeat to his teammate in the Drivers' Championship.
Why it matters:
The persistent perception of bias, whether accurate or not, can impact team dynamics, driver morale, and a team's public image in key markets. For McLaren, managing two elite drivers and maintaining absolute parity is a complex challenge with significant reputational stakes, especially in Piastri's home country where sentiment is strong.
The details:
- Following the Abu Dhabi finale, an Australian TV presenter commented, "Let’s hope Oscar can do it next year… if McLaren don’t work against him."
- Another segment on 10 News+, while reporting on a $41 million performance bonus for Piastri, introduced the story by stating the country "felt robbed" and that McLaren had "seemingly preferenced his teammate."
- The debate has transcended sports media, having previously been raised in the Australian Senate, highlighting its cultural resonance.
- McLaren CEO Zak Brown addressed the issue in an interview, emphasizing the team builds the same car for both drivers and that development gains are measured in milliseconds, implicitly arguing against deliberate favoritism.
The big picture:
The controversy underscores the intense scrutiny faced by top teams with closely matched driver pairings. While teams consistently claim to provide equal equipment, strategic decisions, development focus, and even subconscious biases are often parsed by fans and media, particularly when a title is on the line. Piastri's stellar performance in only his second season made the championship battle an internal affair, naturally amplifying any perceived inequality.
What's next:
The pressure is now on McLaren to demonstrate unequivocal equality in 2025. Any strategic decision that appears to benefit one driver over the other will be magnified under this existing lens. For Piastri, the reported $41 million bonus is a tangible acknowledgment of his value, but the ultimate goal will be securing a championship under conditions he and his supporters believe are entirely fair.