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How to tune into Sport Nation"McLaren don't care”: F1 legend on Piastri conspiracy theories
SEN • October 31st, 2025 3:35 pm
F1 legend Martin Brundle has rubbished the conspiracy theories around McLaren supposedly giving Lando Norris preferential treatment over Oscar Piastri.
With the Australian driver struggling for form in recent weeks while his teammate has found repeated podium finishes, tension between the pair has mounted, so too have suggestions of favouritism.
Last weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix saw Piastri relinquish his lead in the title race for the first time since the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, and he now trails teammate Norris by a single point with four races left this season.
Piastri is on a downward trend not finished on the podium since Monza on September 7.
Norris meanwhile has been top three in every race since Italy.
Norris meanwhile has been top three in every race since Italy.
Aussie media types in particular are crying preferential treatment, the truth of the matter is, Piastri has struggled to adapt to car updates where perhaps his British teammate has not.
“Rest assured, a team does not spend $400 million a year and have one and a half thousand employees and try to make one of their cars go a little bit more slowly,” Brundle said on the F1 podcast.
“So everybody associated with Oscar’s car will want him to turn that around soon, as in Brazil.
“I’m sure McLaren are checking that chassis, the aerodynamics, the fit, the set-up of that car ad infinitum to make sure …. because I really honestly believe McLaren don’t mind which driver wins the world championship as long as it’s one of them and it’s not Max Verstappen, it’s super important to them.”
While only one point separates the two McLarens, Max Verstappen is creeping up behind them.
In August, the four-time world champion was more than 100 points behind, but the gap between the Dutchman and Norris is now only 36.
So what exactly does Brundle think is going on with Piastri who, until recently has looked and sounded cool, calm and collected.
“Obviously Baku (September 21) would have scattered his brain,” Brundle continued.
“That was a very difficult weekend for him with twice in the barriers and the jump start and it seems to have gone off the rails.
“Something has happened in Oscar’s head. Have we seen any signs of this before in his previous junior racing or Formula 1 seasons that’s worth looking into?
“But something has just gone wrong and he has lost a bit of confidence. The way that these cars go into corners, and how close the competition is at the moment, you only need to be a touch off and he needs a very solid weekend (in Brazil).
“We described him as horizontal for pretty much all the whole season because that’s how he looked … and he always has been so calm on the radio and not letting things get to him and suddenly that glass ceiling and that façade, or whatever it is, seems to have gone from him and he is struggling.”
