The Formula 1 paddock has been rocked by an earthquake of allegations — and it’s shaking McLaren to its core. What started as whispers of internal tension after the Mexican Grand Prix has now exploded into full-blown controversy: new evidence suggests Oscar Piastri’s car may have been deliberately compromised from within the team.
Sources close to the Woking camp have leaked what’s being described as “disturbing internal telemetry data” and “unauthorized adjustments” made to Piastri’s MCL39 during qualifying in Mexico — changes that, according to engineers, dramatically altered the car’s balance and tire performance, effectively ruining his race weekend.
And the bombshell? These changes reportedly did not come from Piastri’s side of the garage.
🧨 “Someone inside doesn’t want him to win,” one insider told a European motorsport journalist. “There’s too much at stake — politics, favoritism, egos. This isn’t just a setup issue. This is something darker.”
The timing couldn’t be worse. Piastri, who entered Mexico as the championship leader, endured a disastrous weekend, finishing 12th after complaining of “strange oversteer and inconsistent traction.” Meanwhile, teammate Lando Norris — who has been privately frustrated by the team’s recent focus on Piastri — mysteriously reported “the best car balance of the season.”
Behind closed doors, McLaren engineers are said to be divided into two camps — the “Piastri camp” and the “Norris camp.” Several staff members have allegedly been questioned about data manipulation and “accidental” parameter overrides on Piastri’s telemetry system prior to FP3. One anonymous mechanic claimed:
“You could see it in the numbers. His car wasn’t behaving like Lando’s — not even close. It’s like someone deliberately dialed out the front grip.”
Team principal Andrea Stella reportedly held an emergency debrief Sunday night to address what he called “unacceptable inconsistencies.” However, sources say his comments to the press were “deliberately neutral” to avoid igniting a public scandal before the FIA gets involved.
Meanwhile, fans on social media are on fire. The hashtag #PiastriSabotage trended worldwide within hours of the leak, with fans accusing McLaren of “protecting Norris at all costs.” Others believe it’s all a miscommunication blown out of proportion — but even within the paddock, the whispers are relentless.
One rival team engineer, speaking under anonymity, added fuel to the fire:
“This isn’t the first time something like this has happened in a title battle between teammates. But usually, it’s buried. This time, they got sloppy.”
Adding to the chaos, rumors suggest Piastri’s management team is now considering a formal inquiry, demanding McLaren release full telemetry logs from both cars. FIA officials, meanwhile, are said to be “monitoring the situation closely” but have yet to announce an investigation.
As tensions boil over, the McLaren garage has turned icy — insiders describe Norris and Piastri as “barely acknowledging each other,” while Stella faces what could be the biggest leadership crisis of his career.
🏁 With the championship tightening and Verstappen circling like a shark, McLaren’s internal war could destroy their title hopes before the next race even begins.
“This is no longer just about speed,” a senior paddock insider said. “It’s about trust — and right now, McLaren doesn’t have any.”
🔥 The Mexico GP may be over… but the real battle at McLaren is just beginning.
