JUST IN: McLaren Forced Into Embarrassing U-Turn Over Lando Norris Amid Fierce… Read more
McLaren Forced Into Embarrassing U-Turn Over Lando Norris Amid Fierce Title Battle
By Hugo Harvey | October 24, 2025
In a surprising twist ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, McLaren have backtracked on their earlier decision to impose “repercussions” on Lando Norris, in what many are calling an embarrassing U-turn by the Woking-based outfit. The move comes amid growing tension within the team’s driver camp and a tightening Formula 1 title race that now sees three drivers — Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen — locked in a thrilling fight for the championship crown.
Earlier this week, speculation mounted that Norris was being penalised internally for a controversial on-track move against team-mate Piastri during the Singapore Grand Prix. McLaren CEO Zak Brown had hinted at “minor sporting consequences” for the British driver following the incident, which was initially thought to involve a restriction or disadvantage in upcoming sessions.
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz went as far as to suggest that the penalty involved giving Piastri “priority in all qualifying sessions until the end of the season” — a decision that could have major implications for Norris’s championship campaign. Although McLaren never officially confirmed the details, the suggestion was enough to fuel widespread debate about internal team politics and fairness.
Despite this, Norris delivered a strong performance at the United States Grand Prix, finishing second behind Verstappen and ahead of Piastri, who came home fifth. The result trimmed Piastri’s lead in the drivers’ standings for the fourth consecutive weekend, leaving just 14 points separating the two McLaren drivers.
However, what seemed like a straightforward title fight between the papaya pair took a dramatic turn during the Austin sprint race, when Norris and Piastri collided on the opening lap. The contact forced both McLarens out of contention and allowed Verstappen to capitalise, winning both the sprint and the main race, and thrusting himself firmly back into the title conversation.
That incident appears to have been the final straw that led McLaren to drop the so-called “repercussions” imposed on Norris. Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s race in Mexico City, Piastri revealed that the team had decided to start fresh, admitting partial responsibility for the Austin clash.
“We’ve gone through everything again, just like we do after every weekend,” Piastri explained. “There is a degree of responsibility from my side in the sprint, and we’re starting this weekend on a clean slate for both of us — just going out there, racing, and seeing who comes out on top.”
The Australian went on to confirm that “the consequences on Lando’s side have been removed,” acknowledging that his own aggressive move during the sprint — a sharp cut-back at Turn 1 — played a role in the collision. The decision effectively ends the internal disciplinary measure that had shadowed Norris in recent weeks and restores competitive equality between McLaren’s two drivers.
The development adds another intriguing layer to a season already brimming with drama. Verstappen, who has now won three of the last five Grands Prix and finished second in the other two, is steadily closing the gap to the McLaren duo. The Dutchman, a four-time world champion, has finished ahead of Norris in all five of those races and has only been beaten by Piastri once in that span. With just five rounds remaining, he sits 40 points behind Piastri and looks to be gathering unstoppable momentum.
McLaren, who clinched the Constructors’ Championship back in Singapore, are chasing their first double title since 1998. Yet, the team’s reluctance to clearly back one driver could prove costly as Verstappen looms large. Team principal Andrea Stella has maintained that both drivers will continue to race freely, but as the championship reaches its climax, many in the paddock believe McLaren may soon have to make a decisive call on which of their stars to prioritise.
For now, both Norris and Piastri head into the Mexican Grand Prix on equal footing — but with Verstappen breathing down their necks, McLaren’s internal harmony will be tested like never before. Whether their U-turn will stabilise the situation or further complicate their title ambitions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the battle for the 2025 F1 crown is far from over.
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