Oscar Piastri has confirmed the aftermath of McLaren’s internal inquiry following his high-profile clash with teammate Lando Norris during the United States Grand Prix Sprint in Austin. The incident, which unfolded at the very first corner of the Circuit of the Americas, reignited tensions within the team and altered the dynamics of McLaren’s internal title fight as the championship approaches its final stretch.
As the lights went out, Piastri initially yielded to Norris but soon found himself in a chain reaction of chaos. A brush with Nico Hülkenberg’s Haas ricocheted his car into Norris’s, triggering a costly collision that ended both drivers’ sprints prematurely. Norris spun off after losing a wheel, while Piastri’s suspension failure sealed a disastrous double retirement for McLaren — a blow to both their constructors’ hopes and the fragile balance between their two drivers.
Sunday brought little redemption for the Australian. While Piastri could salvage only a fifth-place finish, Norris recovered strongly to secure second behind Max Verstappen. The result tightened the intra-team title battle, with Piastri’s lead slashed to a mere 14 points and Verstappen closing the gap to 40 — reigniting the championship tension with just five rounds to go.
However, McLaren’s management has since made internal adjustments following the collision. Reports from The Race suggest that whatever small privileges or leniencies Piastri previously enjoyed have been withdrawn. After initially attributing partial blame to Hülkenberg, McLaren’s post-race analysis concluded that Piastri could have exercised greater caution. As a result, any lingering disciplinary actions against Norris were rescinded, effectively shifting accountability toward Piastri.
Acknowledging his role, Piastri admitted that there was “a degree of responsibility” on his part, emphasizing that both drivers would now approach the Mexican Grand Prix on equal footing. “We’re starting this weekend on a clean slate,” he said. “It’s about racing hard and seeing who comes out on top.” With McLaren’s championship ambitions on the line and internal pressure mounting, the next chapter between the young duo promises to be anything but calm.
