Piastri: No Further Fallout Following Austin Incident

Piastri Takes “Some Responsibility” for McLaren Crash as Team Looks to Rebound in Mexico

Oscar Piastri isn’t shying away from his role in the costly collision with teammate Lando Norris during last weekend’s sprint race in Austin.

“I think there is a degree of responsibility from my side in the sprint,” the Australian admitted during Thursday’s press conference at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The dramatic incident saw both McLarens fail to finish after Piastri was clipped from behind by Nico Hulkenberg, triggering contact with Norris at Turn 1.

“Yeah, we’ve gone through it again,” Piastri explained. “We go through every weekend regardless of what’s happened.”

The timing couldn’t have been worse for McLaren. Max Verstappen capitalized on their misfortune, winning both the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix to slash his championship deficit to just 40 points.

It’s a far cry from the commanding 104-point lead McLaren enjoyed after the Dutch Grand Prix.

“We’re starting this weekend with a clean slate for both of us, just going out and racing, and see who can come out on top,” Piastri insisted.

He also revealed that “consequences on Lando’s side have been removed” from their previous contact in Singapore, suggesting the team has wiped the slate clean from both incidents.

## McLaren Hoping to Avoid More Teammate Trouble

The back-to-back contact incidents in Singapore and Austin have sparked growing discussions about how the McLaren drivers are handling the pressure of a tightening championship battle.

Those infamous “papaya rules” – the team’s internal guidelines for driver conduct – are getting plenty of attention as the season enters its final stretch.

Despite the drama, Piastri seems unfazed about the championship picture with just five races remaining. His focus appears to be on his own performance rather than title calculations.

For McLaren, the priority is clear: keep both cars on track and scoring points if they want to maintain their advantage over a resurgent Red Bull.

Will the McLaren teammates keep it clean this weekend? Mexico City provides the perfect stage for redemption.