P1racenews AI automatic summary:
‘Piastri has to leave!’ F1 fans fury after McLaren staff celebration refusal
Some F1 fans continue to believe in McLaren conspiracy theories online after a video clip from sprint qualifying went viral on social media on Friday. Despite Lando Norris taking the lead in the F1 title race due to Oscar Piastri’s recent performance drop, Piastri reclaimed sprint pole at the Qatar Grand Prix. Speculations over McLaren favoring Norris in the championship battle have been circulating for three months, despite the team’s claims of fair play for both drivers. Misinterpreted footage from the McLaren garage further fueled these rumors, with fans expressing outrage over Piastri’s perceived mistreatment. While some fans fell for the conspiracy bait, others defended McLaren, highlighting the misunderstandings in the viral post. Not only online, but even former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone voiced accusations against McLaren, alleging bias towards Norris for commercial reasons. McLaren’s leadership, however, has consistently denied these allegations and maintained a no-team-orders policy, emphasizing fair competition till the end of the 2025 championship.
