The Truth Behind Oscar Piastri's Mysterious Social Media Post Revealed

Oscar Piastri's social media briefly displayed a deleted post featuring Bernie Ecclestone's quotes, fueling conspiracy theories about McLaren favoring Lando Norris. However, sources indicate Piastri was unaware of the post, which was an accidental reshare by a support team member due to a 'slip of the finger.'

Why it matters:

The incident, though an innocent mistake, gained significant traction because it coincided with Piastri's declining performance relative to Norris and previous team orders favoring his teammate. This context amplified existing suggestions of McLaren favoritism, making a simple error appear as a deliberate statement or evidence of internal team dynamics, thus sparking widespread discussion among fans.

The details:

• The Post: An image containing quotes from Bernie Ecclestone, implying McLaren was favoring Lando Norris, briefly appeared on Piastri's timeline ahead of Free Practice 3 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
• Deletion: The post was live for only a few seconds before being deleted, but it was long enough to ignite social media.
• Piastri's Knowledge: PlanetF1.com understands that Piastri had no knowledge of the post. It was posted erroneously by a member of his small support team, who keeps him updated on media and social media discussions.
• The Cause: The post was an inadvertent reshare from Piastri's account due to an accidental screen tap by a staff member.
• Championship Context: Piastri, who once led Norris by 34 points after the Dutch Grand Prix, now trails him by 24 points. This shift has coincided with several on-track incidents and team decisions that have fueled speculation:
  • Italian Grand Prix: Piastri was asked to move aside for Norris after a slow pit stop.
  • Singapore Grand Prix: Contact between the two resulted in Norris gaining a place, with no immediate in-race penalty.
  • United States GP Sprint: The pair made contact at the start.
• Waning Form: Piastri's early-season form has reportedly waned, with Norris gaining the ascendancy.

The big picture:

The incident highlights the intense scrutiny F1 drivers face, where a minor error can quickly escalate into a major talking point, especially when team dynamics and championship battles are at play. While the truth was a simple human error, the narrative that unfolded online reflects the passionate, and at times conspiratorial, nature of the F1 fanbase.

What's next:

While this specific incident appears to be resolved as an accident, the broader discussion about McLaren's team dynamics and the rivalry between Piastri and Norris will undoubtedly continue as the season progresses. Both drivers will be under even more intense spotlight in future races, particularly if any similar on-track or off-track incidents occur, to see if the 'favoritism' narrative resurfaces.