Oscar Piastri stormed to sprint pole in Qatar, putting himself right back in the title fight, but the celebration in the McLaren garage looked anything but joyful. Cameras caught a sea of glum faces and folded arms as the Australian’s time flashed up on the screens. The clip instantly went viral and reignited accusations that the team is quietly favouring Lando Norris.
The footage mainly showed the side of the garage belonging to Norris, who qualified third. While that explains some of the disappointment, fans were quick to point out that nobody looked even mildly pleased that a McLaren was on pole. One fan tweeted, “They’re not even hiding it anymore… Oscar has to leave,” while another said the garage looked like they were “attending a memorial service.”
For most of the first half of 2025, Piastri was the championship leader, but a mid-season slump let Norris take control. Ever since, every close qualifying battle or strategy call has been dissected for signs of bias. The muted reaction to Piastri’s first pole in months has poured fresh fuel on the fire and brought the old conspiracy theories roaring back.
Some fans defended McLaren, arguing the camera simply caught Norris’s mechanics upset that their driver lost pole by 0.032 seconds. Yet the overall vibe was undeniably flat—no high-fives, no cheers, just awkward silence. With the title on the line and only two weekends left, the garage mood has become the latest flashpoint in the Norris-Piastri rivalry.
As the clip continues to spread, the pressure is growing on McLaren to prove they’re treating both drivers equally. Piastri himself has repeatedly said there are no team orders, but after Friday’s awkward scenes, plenty of fans are convinced the garage atmosphere tells a very different story.
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