McLaren have been accused of ‘sabotaging’ one of their drivers, ahead of a crucial weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Lando Norris arrives in Sao Paulo with the world championship lead for the first time in several months, holding a one point advantage over his teammate Oscar Piastri.
The McLaren pair remain favourites for the title, but four-time world champion Max Verstappen has edged closer in recent weeks and is now just 36 points behind.
With only four race weekends remaining, this is Formula 1’s first three-way title fight for 15 years.
This weekend’s race in Brazil could prove to be pivotal, with both a sprint race and the full distance Grand Prix on the schedule.
However, McLaren have faced criticism from former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who has accused them of disadvantaging Piastri.
Speaking to RTL/ntv and sport.de, Ecclestone said: “Yes, that’s what it looks like. McLaren has clearly favoured Norris in the second half of the season.”
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Bernie Ecclestone (Image: Getty)
The 95-year-old claimed that Piastri was “clearly faster” in the early stages of the campaign, but has since “slowed down in various ways.”
He added that Norris was being favoured by McLaren because of his marketability.
“He has more star power, more camera presence, and is more in the public eye,” Ecclestone said.
“That makes him more valuable to McLaren.”
McLaren, who have already secured the Constructors’ Championship, operate under what they call their ‘papaya rules’.
Norris and Piastri are free to race each other, provided they keep it fair and avoid colliding, but that has not got to plan in recent weeks.
Lando Norris won the Mexican Grand Prix (Image: Getty)
In Singapore, Norris made contact with Piastri, before the Australian took them both out of the sprint race in the United States.
They avoided conflict last time out in Mexico, where Norris took the victory, while Piastri came home in fifth.
Ahead of this weekend’s action, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner criticised McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’, suggesting they could hand the advantage to Verstappen.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, he said: “While I was completely ‘no’ a few races ago, I’m saying yes.
“His best ally to win this championship is McLaren. The papaya rules are for Max.”
Steiner continued: “I think there’s enough opportunity out there.
“Because, I mean, we all know that Lando is not the most solid guy to make points. So why, all of a sudden, should he be the top performer all the time?
“He will have highlights, while Max, it’s very rarely that he puts his foot wrong.”
