Formula One legend Alan Jones has stepped into the debate surrounding McLaren’s drivers, calling suggestions that Lando Norris receives special treatment over Oscar Piastri “absolute nonsense.”
The 1980 World Champion is adamant that claims of bias are simply overblown speculation.
Piastri’s Rollercoaster Season
Oscar Piastri started the season like a rocket, racking up wins and building a 34-point lead in the World Championship at the Italian Grand Prix.
But everything changed in Monza when he was ordered to give back second place to his team-mate Norris after a slow pit stop—a move that visibly frustrated the 24-year-old Aussie.
Tensions flared again at the Singapore Grand Prix when Norris made contact with Max Verstappen, which subsequently affected Piastri.
The stewards didn’t investigate, and McLaren confirmed that Piastri should keep his position while Norris finished ahead in third place.
“That’s not fair. I’m sorry, that’s not fair,” Piastri said over the radio.
Baku brought further misfortune, with Piastri crashing out and calling it the “worst weekend of racing ever.”
Since then, Norris has overtaken him in the championship standings, leaving some fans and commentators to speculate about team favouritism.
Jones Calls the Speculation Out
Alan Jones doesn’t buy it. Speaking to ABC Sport, he dismissed the rumours as “the greatest load of nonsense of all time.”
He pointed out that in every F1 season there are similar claims of one driver being favoured over another, citing past debates involving Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.
Jones explained that teams don’t spend millions traveling the globe just to give one driver an advantage over the other.
“I can assure you that both these cars are getting the same sort of treatment,” he said, adding that McLaren CEO Zak Brown is committed to fairness.
Human Nature, Not Bias
Jones believes that the speculation is more about human nature than reality.
A dip in form or a tricky weekend can spark wild theories.
“If it was tennis, they’d be saying they were giving the bloke the wrong racket or something,” he joked.
He also highlighted the role of commentators who weigh in on incidents without fully understanding the cars or circumstances.
Piastri and McLaren Respond
Oscar Piastri has firmly denied any preferential treatment. Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, he said, “No, it’s not the case.
The last couple of weekends have been trickier, but we have clear explanations for why that is.”
He insisted that everything that has happened is understandable and there is no hidden agenda.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown echoed the sentiment, telling the Associated Press that the team treats both drivers equally. “No chance. We’re racers,” he said.
Controversial Penalty in Brazil
Jones also weighed in on Piastri’s recent 10-second penalty in São Paulo for contact with Kimi Antonelli, calling it harsh. “In my opinion, it was a racing incident.
Forcing out that penalty on Oscar was ridiculous,” he said, adding a pointed observation about the nationality of the steward and the drivers involved.
Championship Battle Intensifies
Piastri finished fifth in Brazil, while Norris extended his lead at the top of the standings.
With just three races remaining, the Brit now holds a 24-point advantage over the Australian, keeping the championship battle alive but highlighting the highs and lows of a season that has already delivered plenty of drama.
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