Piastri Responds to Controversial Social Media Incident

Oscar Piastri faced questions after a controversial repost on his Instagram feed, which featured quotes from Bernie Ecclestone suggesting McLaren prefers Lando Norris. Piastri stated he didn't know how the repost occurred, implying it was accidental and unintentional, but the incident quickly went viral on social media.

Why it matters:

This incident, regardless of intent, fuels ongoing rumors of favoritism within McLaren towards Lando Norris. Such accusations, even if unfounded, can create unnecessary tension and distractions for a team striving for a championship. For Piastri, it adds an unwelcome spotlight to his social media activity, especially during a crucial race weekend.

The Details:

• The Incident: In the early hours before FP3 and qualifying at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Piastri's Instagram account reposted controversial remarks from former F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone. These remarks claimed McLaren favors Lando Norris over Piastri.
• Quick Deletion, Viral Spread: The repost was swiftly deleted, but not before eagle-eyed fans noticed and shared it widely across social media platforms.
• Piastri's Explanation: When questioned by RacingNews365, Piastri stated, "I don't know. I woke up this morning and saw it, so I don't know, maybe I accidentally did it. Obviously, it was not intentional." He emphasized he was unaware of how it happened.
• Impact on Favoritism Claims: While Piastri denied intent, the act of reposting, or even viewing, content that suggests McLaren favoritism towards Norris, inadvertently lends credence to these persistent, though unproven, accusations within the paddock and among fans.
• Qualifying Performance: Piastri qualified fifth for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, despite spinning on his final push lap in Q3. His teammate, Lando Norris, secured pole position for the race.

What's next:

The incident serves as a reminder for drivers to exercise extreme caution with their social media presence, especially during race weekends. For Piastri, the focus will now shift to the race itself, where he'll aim to deliver a strong performance from fifth on the grid and demonstrate his capabilities on track, hopefully putting the social media blip behind him. A solid result could help to deflect attention from off-track distractions and re-emphasize his commitment to the team.