Oscar Piastri’s deleted repost of a Bernie Ecclestone quote — reportedly an error by his social team — has reignited talk of tension with Lando Norris. Betting angle: Norris’s wet-weather Las Vegas pole lifts his win probability, so punters may prefer backing Norris to convert pole, while Piastri looks like a value bet if you expect late-race chaos or safety-car drama to swing the order.
Instagram gaffe puts McLaren intra-team tensions back in the spotlight
Oscar Piastri briefly reposted a Bernie Ecclestone quote claiming McLaren favours Lando Norris, then rapidly deleted it. The item — now attributed to an error by Piastri’s social-media team — nevertheless drew renewed attention to the relationship between McLaren’s two race drivers ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
History of friction: team orders and on-track clashes
Debate over McLaren’s treatment of its drivers has simmered since the European races, where team orders in Hungary and Monza fuelled speculation. Lap-one contact in Singapore added further heat, leaving the Australian visibly frustrated with the team’s handling of incidents. Fan reactions followed: booing greeted Norris after wins in Mexico City and Brazil, creating an unwelcome backdrop to McLaren’s late-season run.
Management response and driver mindsets
McLaren’s leadership has played down any lasting rift, noting both drivers are focused and relaxed. Norris appears to have shrugged off negative crowd reactions and is maintaining strong form, while Piastri faces growing pressure as championship math tightens.
Championship context and Las Vegas qualifying
Qualifying in Las Vegas under treacherous wet conditions produced a stark result: Norris secured a dominant pole, while Piastri qualified fifth. With a 24-point deficit to overturn and only two races remaining after Las Vegas, Piastri must extract maximum performance and hope for incidents ahead if he is to close the gap.
Las Vegas Grand Prix: What to know ahead of the F1 weekend
Betting angle: how this affects punters
Norris’s wet-weather pole increases the likelihood he converts to a race win, making him the safer favourite for matchups and outright bets. Punters seeking upside might back Piastri for longer odds, or target market bets tied to safety cars or late-race position changes given the recent on-track frictions and unpredictable conditions.
A post circulated by Oscar Piastri's Instagram page caused a stir ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
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