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McLaren sparked controversy at Monza last weekend after issuing a team order that forced Oscar Piastri to hand back his position to teammate Lando Norris. The decision has now drawn criticism from former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who questioned the team’s motives.
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Norris, who had enjoyed track position in the first stint, pitted one lap after Piastri for fresh soft tires. However, his stop was significantly delayed, allowing Piastri to regain the position. McLaren’s pit wall then intervened, instructing Piastri to let Norris back through before resuming their fight. After a brief hesitation, the Australian complied.
Ecclestone unimpressed
Ecclestone, never one to shy away from strong opinions, voiced his frustration in an interview with Swiss newspaper Blick. "They keep talking about fairness. But is it fair if Piastri is punished for a mistake made by the team?" the 94-year-old said, condemning the order.
Suggesting favoritism
The former F1 boss went further, hinting at favoritism within the Woking-based team: "You start to get the feeling that McLaren prefers to have a world champion named Lando Norris", Ecclestone suggested.
He added that mishaps such as botched pit stops, engine problems, or suspension issues are part of racing and should not dictate the championship fight.
Title race still wide open
Despite the controversy, the McLaren duo remain firmly in the hunt for the crown. Piastri currently leads the standings with 324 points, while Norris sits second on 293. With several races still to go, the internal rivalry looks set to intensify — and McLaren’s handling of it will be under the spotlight.
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