Tensions surrounding Piastri have surfaced in the Australian parliament.

      The drama surrounding McLaren's title contention has surprisingly reached the floor of the Australian Senate. On Monday, Senator Matt Canavan humorously questioned transport officials, asking, "Do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri, thus costing him the World Championship?" What was intended as a joke highlights a paddock environment that is anything but carefree.

      Suspicion has reignited regarding McLaren’s flawed strategy in Qatar, with some paddock insiders believing the team chose not to pit under the early safety car as it would have favored Piastri more than Lando Norris ahead of the Abu Dhabi showdown. There is a perception that McLaren opted to disadvantage both drivers rather than risk giving an advantage to the Australian.

      The actions of Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, have become a point of focus. F1 photographer Kym Illman reported that Webber shot Zak Brown an "icy look" after Brown interrupted Piastri’s media session to offer him an on-camera hug—an act many viewed as a performative attempt at damage control. When asked what Brown said during the embrace, Piastri responded, "An apology. I can’t ask for anything more than that."

      Rumors are circulating that Webber wants Piastri to leave McLaren entirely. He was even seen socializing with Adrian Newey in the Aston Martin garage during the Qatar race weekend.

      The upcoming three-way title battle in Abu Dhabi involving Norris, Max Verstappen, and Piastri will be the first of its kind since 2010, though Max's father, Jos, will be absent as he participates in a rally in Kenya. Nonetheless, he still exerted pressure on McLaren from a distance. "I can imagine there’s some nervousness at McLaren," Jos told Dutch publication Formule 1. "This might be both drivers' sole opportunity at a world title. You never know if you'll find yourself in that position again."

      He continued, "People are starting to recognize how extraordinary Max is. Teams don’t consider Red Bull; they consider Max." Meanwhile, team principal Andrea Stella publicly supported Piastri’s title chances amid internal strife. "Oscar is certainly in a position to win the title. Historically, sometimes the third candidate emerges victorious," he stated. "McLaren's aim is to defeat Verstappen with one of our drivers. Every decision we make must align with honesty, integrity, and avoid any surprises. If one of them has the opportunity to win the title, we will honor that."

      McLaren’s "Papaya Rules" for strict equal treatment have faced ridicule throughout 2025, especially following the events in Qatar. As suspicions grow, another conspiracy has emerged: that McLaren and Formula 1 are both benefitting from the artificially intensified drama. Zak Brown fueled that notion with a smile after Qatar, noting, "This is definitely a gift for Formula 1 fans. Yes, it’s likely advantageous for the viewership. That wasn’t precisely our master plan, but we’ll see what Abu Dhabi has in store. We won there last year, so we will certainly be competitive."