Under the glowing lights of the Marina Bay Circuit, tensions erupted at McLaren during the Singapore Grand Prix, a race that offered an unexpected ray of hope for Max Verstappen in his title quest. While Mercedes’ George Russell triumphed decisively, and Verstappen finished a strong second, internal drama erupted at the papaya-colored team. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, teammates and title rivals, clashed literally and figuratively on the opening lap, leading to accusations and a chilly atmosphere that indirectly benefits Verstappen. The two McLaren drivers no longer seem to see eye to eye, a rift that undermines team harmony and paves the way for the Red Bull driver to close the gap on the championship standings.

The incident unfolded in the very first corners. Piastri started third, Norris fifth, but the British driver pitted aggressively at Turn 3. In an attempt to pass his teammate, Norris first touched Max Verstappen on the front wing—a touch that didn’t stop him from continuing—and then rammed Piastri, forcing him to the outside and losing time. Piastri’s frustration was loud and clear over the team radio: “That’s not fair! If he has to avoid another car by crashing into his teammate, that’s poor evasive action.” Norris later defended himself by saying that “anyone on the grid would do the same,” but the stewards simply issued a warning, with no penalty. Piastri felt betrayed, especially since McLaren’s “papaya rules”—the unspoken code of fair play between teammates—appeared to have been violated.

Tensions escalated as McLaren clinched their second consecutive Constructors’ Championship, with Norris on the podium in third and Piastri just behind in fourth. The entire team celebrated wildly on track, with champagne and cheers, but Piastri was noticeably absent. While Norris, team principal Andrea Stella, and CEO Zak Brown celebrated, the Australian was busy with media obligations—or so it was said. Social media exploded with speculation: “The team is celebrating without their championship leader, it’s crazy.” Piastri later returned to the garage with a forced smile, but the rift was palpable. Team principal Stella called it “just hard racing” and promised “good conversations” to restore unity, but the damage had been done. Norris reduced Piastri’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to just 22 points, while Verstappen closed the gap to 63 points—a boost for the Dutchman, who is struggling against a less competitive Red Bull.

Amidst this team drama, Piastri made a shocking revelation about the MCL39, the car McLaren has dominated this season but has also exposed vulnerabilities. In an attempt to channel his frustration, the Australian hinted at previous issues with the car, such as instability in low corners and brake cooling issues that had previously been investigated by the FIA. “The MCL39 is fast, but unpredictable,” he reportedly whispered in a side conversation, referring to previous FIA inspections after races like Miami, where the car was thoroughly checked for regulatory violations. This admission came at a time when rivals like Red Bull were watching for weaknesses, and it added insult to injury for McLaren, who had previously seen their reliability as an asset.

Immediately after the race, things escalated further: a McLaren car—speculated to be that of Norris or Piastri—was taken in for a technical examination by the FIA. The conclusion? “Disqualified”—a disqualification that didn’t immediately result in a loss of points, but did inflame the atmosphere. It was an alleged violation, perhaps related to the earlier contact or setup anomalies, and McLaren boss Stella was “so mad about it” in an ironic sense, furious about the bureaucracy that interrupted their celebration. For Verstappen, this is pure gold: internal divisions at McLaren mean less focus on the title fight, and more opportunities for him to strike in the final six races. The Dutchman, who fought fiercely to maintain his position in Singapore, is secretly grinning: this is perfect news for his comeback dream.

The aftermath promises fireworks. Stella and Brown must put an end to the sibling feud, while Piastri and Norris regroup for Austin. For Verstappen, who sees the gap shrinking, this is the ideal chaos: McLaren’s weaknesses are exposed, and he just has to watch as the rivals consume each other. In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, a single collision can turn a season – and this was one of the most devastating.