Mclaren hold Norris responsible for first-lap clash with Piastri and promise “consequences”

Lando Norris will face internal repercussions after McLaren held him responsible for a first-lap collision with teammate Oscar Piastri during the Singapore Grand Prix, in a dramatic twist to the Formula One title race.

The pair clashed at turn two on the opening lap, when Norris muscled past Piastri to take third place. The contact between the McLarens sent a shockwave through the paddock, with the Australian immediately venting his anger over team radio.

Although the FIA stewards deemed the incident a racing matter and chose not to penalise either driver, McLaren have since conducted an internal review and found Norris at fault.

Two weeks after the race, team bosses Zak Brown and Andrea Stella confirmed that Norris had accepted responsibility — and that “consequences” would follow. While neither the team nor the drivers specified what those would be, it is understood that the repercussions will carry through to the end of the season and may affect race strategy or internal priorities.

“Lando has taken responsibility for that,” said Piastri, who currently leads Norris by 22 points in the championship standings. “It’s quite clear for us as a team that how lap one unfolded wasn’t how we want to go racing.

“I don’t think you can really say what would have been fair to do in the race, but ultimately the responsibility has been put on Lando afterwards. We know how we’re expected to go racing — and if we don’t, there are consequences.”

Norris agreed with the team’s decision, admitting he was to blame for the contact and that he understood the need for discipline.

“The team held me accountable for what happened, which I think is fair,” Norris told Sky Sports. “We made progress from there in understanding what the repercussions were for myself. There was contact between two McLaren cars — Zak and Andrea don’t want that to happen, and as teammates, we don’t either. That’s the reason I was held accountable. There are consequences.”

He added pointedly: “There are and will be repercussions for me until the end of the season.”

The clash has added fresh tension to one of the sport’s closest and most fascinating title fights in years. Piastri, 24, has emerged as Norris’s toughest rival for the 2025 drivers’ championship, with both men delivering consistent podiums for McLaren’s resurgent campaign.

The British team, which languished near the back of the grid just a few seasons ago, is now the best-performing constructor on the grid — but the rivalry between its drivers is growing increasingly intense.

McLaren have already intervened in previous races to manage the delicate balance between their stars. At Monza, Norris was instructed to allow Piastri through after a pit stop error, while last season, team orders handed Piastri victory in Hungary after strategic differences.

This latest incident is believed to be the team’s strongest disciplinary move yet — a sign that Stella is determined to maintain control as the championship battle tightens.

Asked whether McLaren were overcomplicating the situation with internal politics, Norris defended the team’s approach. “If I was on the outside, I’d probably think the same,” he admitted. “But internally, it’s simple.

“Sometimes the repercussions are not positive, but Andrea’s priority is preserving the teamwork that’s allowed us to go from being last on the grid to fighting for wins. We have two drivers pushing each other harder than anyone else on the grid — that’s what keeps us strong.”

The Singapore clash has reignited comparisons to classic teammate rivalries, from Senna and Prost to Hamilton and Rosberg, with pundits warning that McLaren must tread carefully to avoid destabilising their title challenge.

As the sport heads to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix, all eyes will be on the orange cars. Piastri holds a slender advantage in the standings — but for Norris, the battle to redeem himself, both within McLaren and on the track, has only just begun.