McLaren Sticking To Papaya Rules? Norris Admits 'Repercussions' After Piastri Clash

Last Updated:October 17, 2025, 15:47 IST

Lando Norris faces repercussions after a first-lap clash with Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix, intensifying McLaren’s rivalry ahead of the United States GP.

Lando Norris (left) and Oscar Piastri at the podium of the Belgium GP. (AP Photo)

The Lando Norris–Oscar Piastri rivalry has been one of the defining narratives of Formula 1’s 2025 season — fierce, fast, and increasingly fraught.

But after the Singapore Grand Prix, that battle appears to have crossed a line, with Norris revealing he will face “repercussions" for his first-lap contact with his McLaren teammate.

Singapore Sparks Fly

The flashpoint came at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where the McLaren pair — both in contention for the Drivers’ Championship — tangled on the opening lap.

Starting fifth, Norris launched aggressively off the line, darting past Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and drawing alongside Piastri into Turn 3. As he tried to avoid Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead, Norris clipped the Dutchman’s rear wheel, which sent his car sideways into Piastri’s, damaging the Australian’s front wing.

Piastri didn’t hold back on the radio, calling out his teammate’s move: “That wasn’t very teamlike," he said, later adding, “So, are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way?"

While McLaren went on to secure the Teams’ Championship, the internal tension simmered. And ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Norris admitted that the incident has not been brushed aside.

‘There Are Repercussions’

“Things are reviewed, and there are and will be repercussions for me until the end of the season," Norris told reporters on Thursday.

“It’s not like I’ve got away with anything, but it was also an incident that, let’s say, was small and there was potential to try and avoid it."

The Briton acknowledged that the collision jeopardized not just Piastri’s race but also his own title hopes.

“I can’t afford to make contact and have anything happen like what happened, because I put just as much risk on my whole championship as I do on whoever I might be racing against," he said.

While Norris declined to reveal the specifics of the disciplinary measures — whether internal penalties, reduced testing privileges, or team orders — his tone made clear that McLaren had taken the matter seriously.

“Of course, repercussions for myself," he added. “But otherwise the engagement and how we go racing is the same as it’s always been."

‘We’ve Dealt With It’: Piastri Responds

Piastri, for his part, confirmed that Norris had “taken responsibility" for the clash.

“The talks from Singapore were very productive," said the Australian. “The conclusion was that what happened in Singapore is not how we want to go racing as a team. Lando has taken responsibility for that. That’s in the past now."

The 24-year-old emphasized that while the McLaren duo will continue to race freely, both drivers understand the boundaries. “The rules won’t change because of that. There’s a framework in place for a reason — it’s been dealt with, and now we’re looking forward."

McLaren Regrouping in Austin

McLaren arrive in Austin aiming to reset after a three-race winless run. Norris trails Piastri by 22 points in the standings but has fond memories of Texas, having finished second behind Verstappen last year.

Piastri, meanwhile, has endured mixed fortunes at the Circuit of the Americas, with a fifth-place finish and one DNF in his two starts.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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