The Narrative Problem: When Protocol is Mistaken for Drama

Are we building a mountain out of a mole hill, again?

The Singapore Grand Prix delivered what fans expected: close racing, strategic battles, and McLaren securing back-to-back Constructors’ Championships. However, the story that dominated social media afterwards had little to do with the racing itself. Instead, a narrative arose suggesting Oscar Piastri was unhappy at McLaren and potentially considering an exit, a conclusion based on a series of moments that, upon closer inspection, tell a very different story.

f1

A post shared by @f1

The Incident That Started It All

The controversy started on the first lap when Lando Norris collided with his teammate while trying to overtake for third place at Turn 3. Piastri’s frustration was immediate and understandable. “That’s not fair,” Piastri said over team radio. “Sorry, that’s not fair. If he has to avoid [Verstappen] by crashing into his teammate, that’s a pretty s--- job of avoiding.” The move was significant; it cut Piastri’s championship lead to just three points. Considering McLaren’s recent record of strategy decisions that sometimes seemed to favour Norris, it’s no surprise fans read more into the incident. But frustration in the heat of the moment doesn’t necessarily mean a fractured relationship or a swift departure.