McLaren’s Shock Move on Piastri After New Evidence Changes Everything: Leaked Footage Exposes Favoritism in Singapore GP Drama

The glittering lights of Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 5, 2025, were supposed to crown McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship triumph with six races to spare, but the 4.94 km humidity-soaked gauntlet instead unveiled a papaya powder keg as leaked team radio and garage footage exposed a shocking post-race decision: Oscar Piastri was ordered to unplug his radio mid-celebration, silencing Zak Brown’s championship congratulations in a move that’s ignited accusations of favoritism toward Lando Norris and prompted manager Mark Webber to demand “immediate clarity or consequences” in a bombshell statement that has X ablaze under #PiastriBetrayed (1.4 million mentions). This “shock move,” confirmed by anonymous McLaren sources to PlanetF1, came after Norris’ aggressive Lap 1 lunge clipped the Australian at Turn 1—shoving him wide and gifting the Brit P3 while dropping Piastri to P5—a contact the team dismissed as “racing incident” despite Piastri’s furious plea, “Are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way?” The footage, surfacing October 6 via Autosport leaks, shows Piastri yanking his plug during Brown’s “back-to-back champions” cheer, mechanics muttering “He’s fuming,” and Norris’ podium hugs in stark contrast, transforming Singapore’s 1-2 (Piastri P2, Norris P3 behind Verstappen) from unity to fracture, with Piastri’s 25-point lead over Norris now a psychological minefield and Verstappen 66 back, lurking to exploit the schism with 150 points left.

From lights out, Singapore’s Turn 1 squeeze was McLaren’s undoing. Piastri, P3 qualifier after outpacing Norris (P5) in rain-drenched Qualifying, launched cleanly, but Norris—desperate to trim his 31-point gap—lunged inside, first grazing Verstappen’s RB21 before sliding into Piastri’s MCL39, the left-front graze forcing the leader wide and costing momentum as Norris emerged P3. Onboards, leaked to Motorsport.com (5.3M views), capture Norris’ overcommitment—a “snap of oversteer” per FIA stewards (no action)—but Piastri’s radio to Tom Stallard drips betrayal: “Yeah, that wasn’t very team-like.” Stallard’s “We’re looking at it” dangled hope, but by Lap 20, Piastri’s simmer erupted: “Are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way?” The query challenged McLaren’s “free racing, no contact” ethos, yet the verdict—”No action; review after”—prioritized a 1-2 over equity, letting Norris build a 2.5-second buffer to P3 while Piastri clawed P2, 1.8 seconds adrift.

The hidden footage—Piastri unplugging mid-Brown’s “back-to-back champions” cheer, mechanics whispering “He’s fuming”—leaked October 6, exposing a garage divided: Norris’ podium hugs versus Piastri’s isolation. This “shock move,” per PlanetF1 sources, was Brown’s call to “de-escalate,” but Webber’s The Race Podcast salvo detonated: “A pattern tilting toward Lando—unfair, eroding trust; clarify or risk implosion.” Citing Hungary’s “strategic gift” and Monza’s yield, Webber warned: “Oscar’s complied; limits exist—McLaren’s risking their duo.” X’s #McLarenFavoritism (1.4M mentions) polls 68% see Norris bias, @F1Pulse: “Oscar’s machine; Lando’s pet—Woking’s blind.”

Stella’s defense—”Free racing; incident”—hollow against history. Piastri, P2 (eighth podium), vented to Sky: “Contact costs—reviewed nothing. Frustrating unsupported.” Norris minimized: “Slippery—normal.” Verstappen, P1 (66 back), pounces: “McLaren’s fight? Our gain.” With 150 points left, Piastri’s edge armor, but Norris’ aggression hints fiercer duels—echoing 2016 Mercedes.

McLaren’s lock (342 over Ferrari) buys grace, but harmony? Shattered. As Mexico awaits October 19, this isn’t static—it’s siren. Piastri’s plea forge fairness, or fracture Woking? Abu Dhabi’s crown guarded, Piastri’s sand-drawn line redraws the map.