In what is rapidly becoming one of the most explosive storylines of the 2025 Formula 1 season, McLaren is facing a firestorm of backlash following shocking new evidence suggesting deliberate sabotage against Oscar Piastri at the Italian Grand Prix. What began as a straightforward race dominated by Max Verstappen has now spiraled into a full-blown crisis for one of the sportâs most respected teams. And at the center of the storm? A controversial team order that has ignited a fury across the paddock, the media, and the global fanbase.
With just eight laps remaining at Monza, Piastri was sitting comfortably in third after executing a perfect pit stop â a move that leapfrogged him ahead of teammate Lando Norris, whose stop had been delayed by a malfunctioning wheel gun. But then came the radio message: McLaren ordered Piastri to give the place back to Norris. The justification? Fairness â because the original running order before the pit stops had Norris ahead. But Piastriâs reaction said it all: âMate, we said a slow pit stop is part of racing, so I donât really get whatâs changed here.â That moment didnât just capture frustration â it exposed something deeper, something more sinister. And now, with leaked telemetry data, timing reports, and internal sources painting an increasingly suspicious picture, many are asking the unthinkable: Was this sabotage?
Fans erupted immediately. Social media exploded with accusations of bias, favoritism, and outright manipulation. Many pointed out that McLarenâs handling of the situation seemed less like a strategic call and more like a pre-meditated plan to protect Norrisâs position â at any cost. The outrage wasnât limited to the stands either. Team principal Andrea Stellaâs post-race defense â in which he all but admitted the decision was pre-planned â only made things worse. His admission that the team had a âpreferred outcomeâ sent shockwaves through the paddock and raised questions about McLarenâs internal power dynamics.
It didnât take long for key figures in the sport to weigh in. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warned that McLarenâs decision risked setting a dangerous precedent where pit stop errors â a part of racing â could be unfairly reversed. Max Verstappen, never one to hold back, called the move âridiculous,â suggesting that if drivers are punished for team errors, then âwhat are we even racing for?â The atmosphere in Monza shifted from celebration to suspicion, and with just eight races left in the season, the championship narrative has taken a dark and dramatic turn.
Piastri, who had been leading Norris by 34 points heading into Monza, now sees that margin cut to just 31. A minor shift on paper â but potentially massive in psychological terms. With every point crucial in a two-driver title fight within the same team, fans and pundits alike are beginning to wonder whether McLaren has already made its choice. Is Lando Norris, the longtime face of the team, being quietly positioned as the de facto number one? And if so, where does that leave Piastri â the man who, until now, has delivered when it mattered most?
The situation is becoming untenable. McLarenâs reputation for fairness is now under serious threat. The trust between drivers â and between driver and team â has been visibly shaken. Piastri may have complied with the order this time, but how long before he pushes back? At just 24, with race wins and title potential within reach, Oscar Piastri is not a driver who will tolerate being second best by politics â especially not when the data, the strategy, and the performance are on his side. The fear now is that Monza may be just the beginning. If the team continues to prioritize Norris under the guise of âstrategy,â the cracks could grow into a full-blown rebellion from within.
This isn’t just a team orders scandal â it’s a test of McLarenâs integrity, its leadership, and its long-term vision. Will they risk alienating a future world champion to protect the driver theyâve built their brand around? Or will they correct course and allow both drivers to compete freely and fairly â as theyâve promised all season long? The decisions made at Monza won’t be forgotten. Theyâve already altered the course of the title fight, reshaped the media narrative, and split the fanbase. Now, with the championship battle heating up and the pressure mounting, every move McLaren makes will be under the microscope. One thing is certain: the war inside McLaren has begun, and the outcome may define not just this season, but the legacy of the team itself.