Ecclestone believes McLaren has chosen its champion

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has stirred the pot once again, suggesting McLaren’s Italian Grand Prix team orders reveal who the team truly wants as world champion this season.

The 94-year-old, who ran the sport for more than four decades, believes Oscar Piastri was unfairly sacrificed in Monza to favour Lando Norris – and that the decision points to McLaren’s title preference.

The controversy erupted when McLaren instructed Piastri to let Norris past late in the race. A sluggish pit stop for Norris had dropped him behind his team-mate, despite running second for most of the afternoon.

McLaren argued the situation was not Norris’ fault and that the order simply restored the positions to where they had been prior to the delay. But the call has divided opinion.

Former McLaren driver David Coulthard claimed the move was “manipulating” the result, while Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko laughed when asked for his view, quipping that it was “very fair.”

Sky F1’s Martin Brundle, however, urged caution, saying harmony between team-mates is something every outfit craves.

Ecclestone: Unfair to Punish Piastri

Ecclestone was blunt when asked whether the team’s logic was justifiable.

“They talk about fairness all the time. But is it fair for Piastri if he is punished for a mistake made by the team? No,” he told Swiss outlet Blick.

“You slowly get the feeling that McLaren prefers a world champion named Lando Norris. Mistakes like missed pit stops, engine failures, and suspension failures may have become less common, but they’re part of the sport.”

The Title Battle Heats Up

With eight races remaining, only 31 points separate Norris and Piastri at the top of the championship.

The Australian had overturned a 23-point deficit after his home race to lead since Saudi Arabia — until Norris’ momentum began to bite into that margin.

Read also:

• Norris shrugs off Monza boos: ‘The cheers were louder!’

McLaren has so far insisted its priority is ensuring both drivers can fight, but Ecclestone’s comments echo the suspicions of many fans who feel the team’s Monza call tipped the scales.

Whether this proves a one-off or a sign of a shifting hierarchy could define the run-in to one of the closest championship battles in years.

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