Oscar Piastri publicly dismissed accusations of sabotage within McLaren after the doubts of 2025 and has focused his preparation, aiming for a stronger campaign in the next world championship.
Oscar Piastri wrapped up the 2025 Formula 1 season amid high expectations and intense debate about his performance at McLaren, particularly in comparison with his teammate, Lando Norris. What began as social media speculation about alleged internal tactics to favor Norris evolved into sabotage theories that the Australian driver firmly rejected.
Accusations that McLaren might be tipping the balance in favor of its British driver emerged after a run of results in which Piastri saw his championship advantage shrink, allowing Norris to take the lead in the title fight. This led fans and commentators to speculate about favoritism or strategic decisions that could have been affecting the Australians’ competitiveness.
In response to these theories, Piastri has been emphatic: there is no evidence of sabotage or preferential treatment from McLaren toward his teammate. In recent remarks, the driver dismissed any internal conspiracy and stressed that performance ups and downs are part of the sport, especially in a season as tight and competitive as 2025.
At the same time, figures close to the driver, including his former coach and media experts, have stepped in to debunk the more extreme speculation. They have pointed out that the performance differences between Piastri and Norris are due to technical factors, track conditions, and specific moments during the season, not deliberate decisions within the team.
McLaren, for its part, has also categorically denied any sabotage theory. Sources linked to the team stated that technical support has been distributed equally between the drivers and that strategic calls are made based on data and race conditions, not on structural favoritism.
The sporting context of 2025 placed Piastri and Norris in a close championship battle, with intense moments on track that included direct duels, contact, and technical decisions debated by the press and fans. Although the season did not end the way Piastri had hoped, the Australian said the lessons learned will be crucial in approaching 2026 with greater maturity and preparation.
With the new championship in sight, Piastri has sharpened his focus on training, simulator work, and closer interaction with his engineering team in order to turn those lessons into concrete results. The goal is clear: return to the highest level and fight for the title from the very beginning, without outside distractions, and with sporting narrative taking priority over any rumor.
After closing 2025 amid criticism and debate, Piastri’s stance is straightforward: there is no room for conspiracies. The path forward is to compete, learn, and improve, as Formula 1 prepares for a new season in which internal rivalries and technical demands will be higher than ever.