Will McLaren give Oscar Piastri ‘repercussions’ after US Grand Prix Sprint crash?

McLaren has seemingly backed itself into a corner after their stance on inter-team contact after both McLarens crashed out of the United States Grand Prix sprint race. 

Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool

A major talking point heading into the United States Grand Prix weekend was around the McLaren contact at the Singapore Grand Prix, two weeks ago. McLaren’s Lando Norris confirmed there will be repercussions for him until the end of the season. 

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the US Grand Prix weekend, Norris said: 

“There are and will be repercussions for me until the end of the season, so yeah, it’s not like I got away with anything.”

This came after the two McLarens made slight contact on the opening lap of the Singapore race after Norris made slight contact with the rear wheel of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. 

Norris bashed past Piastri at turn three, following the contact with Verstappen, which left the latter frustrated in the opening stint of the race. 

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However, in the first competitive race following the event, the two McLarens came together again and this time neither made it to the end of the first lap, let alone the end of the sprint race. 

Norris got a slow start off the line, which left him to contend with Piastri into the opening corner. Piastri tried to cut back on his teammate to take the advantage over Norris on the exit, but he made contact with Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg. 

The contact sent the Australian into the air and into Norris. Norris retired immediately as Piastri moved on before stopping shortly after with significant suspension damage. 

Now, McLaren has seemingly set a precedent that if the ‘papaya rules’ are broken, a ruleset which is suspected to be an agreed rule that the team drivers will not crash into each other.

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Whilst Piastri did not intentionally crash into Norris, it will be interesting to see if the Australian will now suffer consequences for his part in the incident, or if they are back on level ground despite the Australian’s contact retiring both cars from the sprint. 

However, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has claimed neither of the drivers was to blame for the incident, putting it on ‘amateur-hour driving’ from those around them. So, it could be that Piastri may escape punishment or repercussions for the crash.

Personally, I believe the incident to be a racing incident, as was the collision in Singapore. Neither driver has crashed maliciously into the other, but it seems like McLaren may have backed themselves into a corner and be forced to punish Piastri to make conditions equal to Norris.

What do you think, should Oscar Piastri suffer repercussions for the incident? Let us know in the comments.  

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Max Verstappen claims Sprint win at US Grand Prix as McLarens crash
• Max Verstappen seals Sprint Pole at United States Grand Prix
• FIA confirms heat hazard at US Grand Prix
• Teams set to bring a new livery to USA Grand Prix 
• Alpine to make Livery adjustment ahead of USA Grand Prix
• Mercedes go ‘into the unknown’ ahead of celebratory USA GP

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.