Formula 1 is reeling after former Red Bull driver and F1 legend Mark Webber delivered a shocking revelation about McLaren’s internal operations during the 2025 season. According to Webber, Oscar Piastri, one of the brightest talents on the grid, may have been deliberately undermined by his own team in favor of teammate Lando Norris.
This explosive claim threatens to tarnish McLaren’s reputation, cast doubts over recent championship results, and raise serious questions about fairness and meritocracy in the sport.
🔥 Alleged Sabotage: How It Happened
Webber alleges a calculated strategy by McLaren that systematically disadvantaged Piastri:
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Misleading Tire Data: Piastri’s engineers reportedly received inaccurate tire degradation information, forcing him to adopt a cautious driving style. This directly affected lap times and race strategy, leaving him unable to maximize performance.
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Withheld Race Information: During pre-race strategy sessions, Piastri was allegedly deprived of critical updates that were fully available to Norris. This lack of information reportedly hindered his ability to make split-second decisions during the race.
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Strategic Pit Calls: Webber claims that Piastri was summoned to the pits at suboptimal moments, often placing him in traffic and losing valuable seconds, while Norris enjoyed clear air.
If these claims are accurate, they suggest systematic manipulation designed to favor one driver over another, a notion that could shake the core values of McLaren and F1 itself.
⚠️ Fallout for McLaren
The team’s response has been notably muted. Rather than a firm denial, team director Andrea Stella referred vaguely to “personalized strategies,” fueling speculation about favoritism. Internally, engineers and staff are reportedly on edge, with whispers of key talent being courted by rival teams.
For McLaren, this scandal could have long-term consequences: sponsor confidence is at risk, team cohesion is fractured, and their image as a fair and competitive outfit may be irreparably damaged.
🏎️ Impact on Piastri and Norris
Oscar Piastri now faces one of the most pivotal moments of his career. Caught between loyalty and mounting evidence of manipulation, his future with McLaren is uncertain. Already a target for top teams like Ferrari and Red Bull, Piastri’s next move could redefine his trajectory in F1.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris has remained conspicuously silent. With questions now raised about the legitimacy of his championship performance, his reputation could suffer long-term damage—even if the allegations remain unproven.
🌪️ The Bigger Picture
Webber’s revelation isn’t just about Abu Dhabi or the 2025 season. It raises profound questions about driver treatment, team ethics, and transparency in Formula 1. If McLaren’s internal politics compromised Piastri’s performance, it could signal a new era of scrutiny on team practices across the sport.
As the F1 community digests these bombshell claims, all eyes will be on Piastri: Will he rise above the controversy, or has his career been derailed by internal sabotage?
The coming months could reshape the F1 landscape, forcing teams, drivers, and fans to confront uncomfortable truths about the balance of power, loyalty, and ethics in the world’s most prestigious motorsport.