The Formula 1 world has been thrown into turmoil again after remarkable statements from the McLaren team boss , who accuses Max Verstappen of being indirectly responsible for the tensions that led to the argument — and according to some sources even a physical confrontation — between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
According to the McLaren boss, tension within the team began shortly after qualifying, when both drivers were engaged in an internal battle for position. What initially seemed like a sporting rivalry escalated after the race into a behind-the-scenes conflict, with emotions running high.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1, the McLaren boss stated that Verstappen’s behaviour on track had “added fuel to the fire”.
“Max was driving at the limit, but also in a way that was clearly provocative towards our drivers,” he said. “The pressure he created in the opening laps put Lando and Oscar in a situation where they started fighting each other instead of working together. That should never have happened.”
Although Verstappen himself wasn’t directly involved in the confrontation, his aggressive driving style during the opening stages of the race reportedly caused a chain reaction. Piastri was forced to block Norris at Turn 11 to maintain position, leading to contact and a series of heated exchanges over the team radio.
After the race, tensions reportedly escalated in the McLaren garage. Several witnesses reported a heated exchange between the two drivers, after which team members had to intervene to defuse the situation.
The McLaren boss called the incident “embarrassing for the team” and admitted the consequences are serious both sporting and image-wise.
“We’ve worked hard to create a team culture based on respect and collaboration,” he added. “What happened in Austin not only damaged our results, but also our image. And frankly, I think certain behavior on track, even coming from a champion like Verstappen, exacerbated this situation.”
The reactions on social media were immediate. Many fans criticized Verstappen for his allegedly provocative driving, while others accused McLaren management of blaming their internal problems on a rival.
Verstappen himself has not yet publicly commented on the allegations, but sources close to Red Bull have said that the team calls the accusations “absurd and unfounded.”
Meanwhile, McLaren is trying to restore calm within the team, ahead of the next Grand Prix in Mexico. Whether the incident will have long-term consequences for the partnership between Norris and Piastri remains unclear for now—but one thing is certain: the Austin tragedy will reverberate in the paddock for a long time to come.
