Australian TV takes another jab at McLaren after Piastri's title defeat

Australian television has reignited the narrative that McLaren favors Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri, following the latter's third-place finish in the 2025 drivers' championship. After a reporter concluded an interview with Piastri, a studio presenter added a pointed remark, hoping the Australian could win next year "if McLaren don't work against him." This echoes a long-running theory in Piastri's home country that has even been a topic of discussion in the Australian Senate.

Why it matters:

The persistent narrative of team bias, especially when amplified by national media and political figures, adds an external layer of pressure on a team that just secured a 1-2 in the drivers' standings. For Piastri, it frames his impressive season—with seven wins and a prolonged championship lead—within a context of perceived disadvantage, which could influence public perception and team dynamics moving forward.

The details:

The comment came from 9News Australia after Piastri's post-race interview in Abu Dhabi, where he thanked fans for their support and vowed to "go again next year." While Piastri himself has consistently praised the team environment and his partnership with Norris, the external narrative persists. He led the championship for a significant portion of the season, from Saudi Arabia until Mexico City, ultimately finishing 13 points behind his teammate. Despite the title defeat, Piastri expressed pride in his personal growth and performance, acknowledging he would have been happy with his tally of poles, wins, and podiums if presented at the season's start.

The big picture:

This incident highlights the intense scrutiny and national pride invested in a driver like Piastri, who is seen as Australia's best hope for a world champion since Daniel Ricciardo's peak. The team's operational decisions, strategy calls, and development focus will now be watched even more closely by a segment of the fanbase and media predisposed to see favoritism. For McLaren, managing two elite drivers and the external narratives surrounding them is as much a part of the modern F1 challenge as car development.

What's next:

The spotlight will be firmly on McLaren's internal equilibrium as the team enters the 2026 season as the defending constructors' champion and with the reigning drivers' champion in Norris. Any perceived imbalance in resource allocation or strategic support will likely be magnified. Piastri's challenge is to use the experience of a near-miss title campaign to come back stronger, potentially forcing the narrative to shift from one of bias to one of a truly formidable, evenly-matched driver pairing.