McLaren pair say Singapore Grand Prix clash has repercussions and consequences

AUSTIN – Formula One title rivals and McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris spoke on Oct 16 of the “consequences” and “repercussions” resulting from a Singapore Grand Prix clash, without saying what they might be.

Norris, 25, charged up the inside of Piastri, 24, on the opening lap of that race, clipping the back of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and forcing Piastri so wide the drivers’ championship leader almost hit the wall.

Briton Norris finished third, with Piastri of Australia fourth, and the pair are now separated by 22 points with six rounds remaining. McLaren have already secured

the constructors’ title for the second year in a row

.

Speaking to reporters separately ahead of this week’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, both drivers said the matter had been addressed and dealt with.

“Things were reviewed and there are and will be repercussions for me until the end of the season, so it’s not like I’ve got away with anything,” Norris said.

“Repercussions for myself but otherwise the engagement and how we go racing is the same as it’s always been.”

Piastri, who has been beaten by Norris in the last three races, said the discussions had been very productive.

“The incident we had in Singapore isn’t how we want to go racing,” Piastri said. “Lando’s taken responsibility for that.

“Ultimately we know how we’re expected to go racing and if we don’t, there’s consequences.”

Asked what they might be, Piastri replied that it was for the team to say.

McLaren have been determined to keep the duel between their drivers a fair fight, dousing down any flare-ups, and have maintained a strict “race on equal terms but do not collide” policy on track.

The incident in the Oct 5 race was the second time this season that the pair had made contact, with Norris running into the back of Piastri in Canada and accepting the blame.

“The team held me accountable for what happened, which I think is fair,” he told Sky Sports of the Singapore collision.

“Then we made progress from there on understanding what the repercussions were for myself to avoid anything worse happening than what did.”

Norris said neither driver wanted that kind of clash to happen, with him having more to risk as the one behind in the championship.

Closely behind them is Verstappen, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said the Dutchman was capable of overhauling Piastri’s 63-point advantage to claim a sensational fifth drivers’ title.

The Aston Martin driver stressed that if anyone could do it, it was Verstappen.

“It’s difficult to say, or to guess, who can win the championship,” said Alonso.

“The two McLarens have a little bit of an advantage because of the points and I would say it’s between the two of them. But Max is an incredible driver. He is one of the best drivers in the history of the sport.

“He’s obviously fighting against a superior car, which is the McLaren, but if it comes to the last race or whatever and they are tight on points, maybe in that moment he becomes the man to follow.”

Verstappen said he was taking it “race by race” and was “not really thinking about it” when asked about his title challenge.

Meanwhile, Formula One’s governing body declared a heat hazard for the second race in a row at the US Grand Prix. Race director Rui Marques said in a statement sent to teams that an official forecast predicted the heat index would be more than 31 deg C at some time during the Saturday sprint or Sunday’s main race.

The regulation was invoked

for the first time at the Singapore Grand Prix

due to the temperatures and high humidity. It was brought in after drivers suffered exhaustion at the 2023 Qatar GP and means drivers can either wear a cooling vest, which circulates cold liquid through tubes to maintain body temperature, or add extra ballast to their cars.

The vests are set to become mandatory in hot conditions from next season but are not universally popular, with some drivers preferring not to use them. REUTERS, AFP