Oscar Piastri dismissed a media interrogation after the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, after a controversial first-lap brush with McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
The Australian began the race in third position, and by the first corner, put second-placed Max Verstappen under pressure.
However, it drew Piastri into the clutches of Norris, who had jumped to fourth after starting fifth, and by the second turn in the sweeping opening complex, they were side-by-side.
Norris, holding the inside line into Turn 3, muscled past Piastri, and the pair touched as the Brit also nudged the rear end of Verstappen’s car.
Piastri was sent wide and just about held on to fourth place, and began to vent his frustrations over the radio, accusing Norris of “barging” him, saying the move was “not very team-like”.
After consolidating fourth place, with Norris’ third place securing McLaren’s second straight Constructors’ Championship, Piastri refused to be drawn on the incident.
“I need to look more at the replays to know exactly what happened,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “Obviously, I think the main thing is the two cars coming together is never what we want.
“I’ll go and have a look at it in more detail and come to my conclusion.”
Piastri defended his verbal onslaught in the moment, reasoning that “tensions are high,” adding: “We’re obviously encouraged to share our views on what happened. I did that. I’m sure we’ll discuss it more after.”
McLaren will ‘undoubtedly’ discuss incident, Piastri confirms
The incident was immediately noted by the stewards, but no further action was taken, prompting Piastri’s race engineer Tom Stallard to deliver that development.
“As a team, we see Lando had to avoid Verstappen, so we won’t take any action during the race. We can review further afterwards,” he said.
“Mate, that’s not fair, that’s not fair,” Piastri protested.
“We’ll have the opportunity to review afterwards, just focus on the race,” Stallard replied, before Piastri delivered a brutal final say on the matter.
“If he has to avoid another car by crashing into his team-mate, then that’s a pretty **** job of avoiding.”
When asked about his communications with Stallard, Piastri reasoned that they may have been hyped up more than they should have been.
“I think most of my comments were over two laps out of 62,” he said. “I don’t know. Maybe it was delayed more on TV.
“I felt like once I got into my rhythm a bit later in the first stint, I felt like the pace was pretty good. I just didn’t have the track position to do anything with it.”
Piastri was audibly unhappy with the position switch at the Italian Grand Prix, when he was asked to give back second place to Norris after the Brit had fallen behind after a botched tyre stop.
Asked if he needs further clarity from McLaren about its principles of fairness within its ranks, Piastri replied: “I need to see the incident in more detail, honestly. Once I have the full picture of things, then yes.
“Undoubtedly, we will speak about it. I want to see exactly what happened before I make any conclusions.”
Asked if he fears Norris is being given preferential treatment, Piastri simply said: “No.”
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