F1 | McLaren accused of slowing down Oscar Piastri to favor Lando Norris. Bernie Ecclestone accuses McLaren of favoring Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri.

Bernie Ecclestone has once again made headlines with a series of controversial statements about the Formula 1 world. After recently criticizing Ferrari, the former F1 boss has now turned his attention to McLaren, accusing the Woking-based team of choosing Lando Norris as its preferred driver over Oscar Piastri. According to Bernie Ecclestone, McLaren deliberately gave the British driver an advantage for a specific reason.

At the Mexican Grand Prix, Lando Norris delivered a flawless performance that allowed him to reclaim the top spot in the standings, edging ahead of his teammate and rival by just one point. At this stage of the season, the British driver appears to be in stronger form and more in tune with the MCL39, while the Australian is going through a more challenging period. However, the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix represents a key opportunity for Oscar Piastri to respond to Lando Norris’s recent resurgence.

The accusation against McLaren

In an exclusive interview with RTL/ntv and Sport.de, the former Formula 1 CEO discussed the internal situation at McLaren, claiming that the team is clearly favoring Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri. “McLaren is favoring Norris in the second half of the season,” Bernie Ecclestone stated.

According to the 95-year-old, the British outfit has allegedly slowed down the Australian driver on several occasions through different methods. However, the accusation remains unproven, as no concrete evidence has been presented. Ecclestone reiterated that Oscar Piastri was significantly faster at the start of the season, suggesting that the Australian’s recent dip in performance is partly the team’s fault.

Ecclestone also explained why Norris might be receiving preferential treatment. “McLaren prefers the British driver Norris. He has more public visibility and marketing potential, more exposure overall. That’s probably why it’s better for the team,” Bernie Ecclestone said. According to him, this commercial aspect would be the main reason behind the alleged unequal treatment.

Team rules and internal pressure under scrutiny

The team’s internal policies have also come under the spotlight. “The pressure is constantly increasing, and Piastri is frustrated that he can no longer win races as easily as before, and that Norris is clearly being favored within the team,” Bernie Ecclestone concluded.