FIA Investigate Norris and Piastri After Singapore Sprint Clash, PlanetF1 Reports
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap of the 20-lap Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix sprint race on October 10, destroying a potential nine-point haul for McLaren and drawing a post-race investigation from the FIA race stewards, PlanetF1 reported.
The Final-Lap Collision at Turn 5
The incident occurred in mixed conditions on the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Both McLaren drivers circulated closely behind Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari throughout the reduced-distance event, with Piastri running fourth and Norris fifth. On the final lap, Norris attempted an overtake on the inside of Turn 5. According to race stewards cited by PlanetF1, Norris’s front axle was not level with Piastri’s at the apex of the corner, a requirement stipulated in the driving guidelines.
Piastri stated that he did not see his teammate until it was too late. I need to look at it. I didn’t see him at the apex,
Piastri said. Norris defended the maneuver in post-race comments to Motorsport.com: In the last lap, there was a big opportunity into Turn 5, so I went for it. The gap closed a bit more than I would have liked, and obviously I’ve had to back out of it because the gap was closing, so I’ve had to try and avoid the incident. And obviously there still was one.
Piastri Retires While Verstappen Wins Sprint
The collision sent both cars into a spin. Piastri suffered significant rear-end damage that forced his immediate retirement, becoming one of a record nine cars that failed to finish the sprint. Norris limped across the finish line in eighth place, salvaging a single championship point. Max Verstappen won the sprint for Red Bull, leapfrogging Norris for fifth in the world championship standings, as reported by Reuters.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 commentary, Martin Brundle called the attempt not smart,
adding that Norris got on the inside kerb as the space pinched, sliding him into the side of his teammate. Former world champion Jenson Button described the move to Sky Sports F1 as a hell of a lunge,
noting that the corner tightens considerably at the apex.
While Norris told Sky Sports F1 that he still believed the move was on and confirmed he apologized to the team for eliminating one car, Piastri downplayed the championship significance given the sprint distance. From where I sit, it’s for fourth and fifth for a sprint race, so I’m not that bothered either way,
Piastri told Sky Sports F1. Just obviously it’s a lot of work now for the team to get both cars fixed.
Stewards Summon McLaren Drivers After Collision
Following the checkered flag, both Norris and Piastri were summoned to the FIA stewards. Norris faces potential penalties that could strip him of his single point; Motorsport.com noted that a 10-second penalty would hand eighth place to Alpine driver Pierre Gasly.
The intra-team clash left McLaren mechanics facing a strict time limit. Teams were permitted to begin work on their cars at 19:13 local time following the sprint, giving the crew roughly a two-hour window to install a replacement gearbox and repair Piastri’s car ahead of grand prix qualifying, which was scheduled for 21:30 local time. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and chief executive Zak Brown did not provide immediate post-session media interviews.
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