Piastri Downplays Controversial Social Media Repost
Oscar Piastri has dismissed a viral social media repost on his Instagram story, which featured a Bernie Ecclestone quote suggesting McLaren favors Lando Norris. Piastri claimed the repost was accidental and unintentional, quickly deleting it. The incident, despite team denials of bias, reignited fan debate about internal favoritism as both drivers fiercely compete for the 2025 championship.
Oscar Piastri has downplayed a controversial social media repost that appeared on his Instagram story, seemingly highlighting McLaren's favoritism towards Lando Norris. The graphic, quoting Bernie Ecclestone, claimed McLaren prefers Norris due to his "star quality" and "camera presence." Piastri stated he had no explanation for the repost, suggesting it was unintentional and quickly deleted.
Why it matters:
This incident reignited online debate about perceived favoritism within McLaren, especially at a tense point in the season as both Piastri and Norris contend for the 2025 championship. While McLaren, Piastri, and Norris have consistently denied internal bias, the viral repost — regardless of its intent — fuels speculation and adds an extra layer of scrutiny to their ongoing rivalry.
The Details:
- Unexpected Repost: Piastri woke up Saturday morning to discover a graphic quoting Bernie Ecclestone had been shared to his Instagram story in the early hours before being swiftly removed.
- Ecclestone's Quote: The original quote, circulating since early November, stated, "McLaren prefers the English driver Norris" due to his "star quality" and "camera presence."
- Piastri's Reaction: Piastri expressed surprise, telling RacingNews365, "I don't know... maybe I accidentally did it. Obviously, it was not intentional."
- Timing is Key: The repost occurred at a critical juncture, with both McLaren drivers battling for the 2025 championship and Piastri's recent performance drawing scrutiny after being outscored by Norris in recent rounds.
- Team's Stance: McLaren has consistently dismissed suggestions of internal bias, and both Piastri and Norris have repeatedly affirmed their stable working relationship amid their title fight.
- Norris's Perspective: Ahead of the Las Vegas weekend, Norris clarified that a reduction in light-hearted social media clips was due to their desire to focus on racing, not tensions. He stressed mutual respect and a good working relationship, even away from the track.
The big picture:
The dynamics within top F1 teams are always under intense scrutiny, especially when two drivers are in a championship fight. While the team and drivers assert unity, external perceptions and social media incidents can quickly fan the flames of speculation, creating additional pressure in an already high-stakes environment.
What's next:
With Norris starting from pole and Piastri lining up fifth in the Las Vegas race, both drivers maintain that their focus remains firmly on delivering the strongest possible result for the team. The incident, though downplayed, will likely continue to be a talking point among fans and pundits, adding an intriguing subplot to the remainder of the season.