The Australian will be eager to win the main event on Sunday

Oscar Piastri has dismissed suggestions that he deliberately fuelled speculation about McLaren favouring Lando Norris in the Formula 1 title race, insisting a social media repost attributed to him was accidental.

The Australian, whose strong start to the season has unravelled in recent weeks, found himself at the centre of fresh debate during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend after appearing to share comments claiming McLaren preferred Norris for commercial reasons.

Earlier in the season, Piastri had led Norris by 34 points.

Since winning at Zandvoort, however, he has failed to take another victory, slipping behind both his teammate and Max Verstappen in the standings.

Norris now leads the championship heading into the final three rounds, a turnaround that has prompted questions about whether McLaren have placed their support more firmly behind the Briton.

Verstappen went as far as describing Piastri’s drop in form as “bizarre,” adding fuel to speculation around team dynamics.

The controversy intensified when Piastri’s account briefly reposted remarks from former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who suggested McLaren might prioritise Norris owing to “star quality” and marketing appeal.

The greatest drivers in F1 history | GETTY/GBNEWS

Oscar Piastri qualified fifth for the Las Vegas Grand Prix| REUTERS

Ecclestone claimed Norris offered more commercial value for the British team, citing factors such as media presence and fan engagement.

However, there is no evidence that McLaren have backed one driver over another, and the team have repeatedly asserted equal treatment.

When asked about the repost following qualifying on the Las Vegas Strip, Piastri firmly denied any attempt to stir tension.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are competing for the F1 title | GETTY

“I don’t know. I woke up this morning and saw it. So, I don’t know,” he said.

Asked directly whether the repost was intentional, he replied: “Maybe I accidentally did it. Obviously, it was not intentional.”

He added that he had no awareness of the post until after the fact, reiterating, “I don’t know what had happened.”

Piastri’s focus instead remained on the increasingly tight championship battle.

While Norris secured his third consecutive pole position in a weather-affected session, Piastri was left frustrated after qualifying fifth.

A spin by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc triggered a late yellow flag in Q3, forcing the Australian to lift off during what he believed was a competitive lap.

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McLaren driver Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in treacherous conditions to seize pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and strengthening his grasp on the battle for the F1 title | REUTERS“I felt very good,” Piastri said. “Q2, a few little wobbles. But Q3, I felt good again, and I felt like things were coming to us pretty nicely.

“But, yeah, unfortunately, not much you can do with a yellow flag on your lap.

“So, frustrating, obviously, but I think the car and myself were quick. So, we’ve got some pace for tomorrow.”

Despite starting on the third row, the 24-year-old remains confident that the MCL39 has the speed to challenge.

Asked if a podium was realistic, he responded: “I think, yes. It’s difficult to know exactly where anyone sits because of the kind of lack of proper race running this weekend.

“But I think the car’s been pretty quick in all conditions. It was quick in the rain then. It was quick in the dry yesterday… hopefully we can use that to get forwards tomorrow.”