Oscar Piastri sparked intrigue from Formula One fans after the Singapore Grand Prix as the Australian was not spotted alongside Lando Norris and other McLaren team-mates during the Constructors’ Championship title celebrations on the Marina Bay Street Circuit podium.
After George Russell celebrated his fifth career Grand Prix victory alongside Max Verstappen and Norris, McLaren staff were invited onto the rostrum to celebrate their achievement. The Woking-based squad clinched back-to-back Constructors’ titles with six races to spare after their drivers crossed the line in third and fourth.
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that while Norris was back on the podium spraying champion to the tune of Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’, Piastri was nowhere to be seen. Conspiracies naturally spread across social media, but the real reason for the Australian’s absence was less dramatic.
Piastri was in the media pen during the celebrations. While the top three at each race head to the cooldown room and then the podium before participating in the post-race press conference, drivers classified fourth or below proceed directly to the paddock to speak with the media.
While Piastri was unable to make his way onto the podium, the 24-year-old joined in with team celebrations in the pit lane afterwards. He posed for photos with the entire McLaren squad and took snaps with individual team members keen to celebrate the moment.
On a personal note, Piastri was frustrated. The Drivers’ Championship leader started the race two positions to the good on team-mate Norris but was staring at the rear wing of his McLaren colleague exiting Turn Three following a move he deemed too aggressive.
Norris was attempting to avoid significant contact with second-placed Max Verstappen, but after bumping into the rear of the Red Bull machine, he suffered a snap and collided with Piastri on his outside. “That wasn’t very team-like, but sure,” the Aussie protested on the radio. “So we are cool with Lando just barging me out of the way?”
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Piastri was still frustrated after the chequered flag, but McLaren’s British star denied any wrongdoing when quizzed on the contact. “I might look at it and think there’s something else I could have done or could have done better,” Norris said.
“Anyone on the grid would have done exactly the same thing as I did. So I think if you fault me for just going up the inside and putting my car on the inside of a big gap, then you shouldn’t be in Formula One.
“I don’t think there was anything wrong that I did. Of course, I misjudged a little bit how close I am to Max, but that’s racing. Nothing happened otherwise. And I’m sure I still would have just ended up ahead of Oscar anyway, because I was on the inside and he would have had the dirty side of the track on the outside.”