Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday, knocking Piastri out of the race and dropping Norris to eighth. Both McLaren drivers were summoned to the FIA stewards to face post-race investigations following the dramatic late-race incident.
Last-Lap Collision at Turn 5 Eliminates Piastri and Scrambles Norris’s Points Finish
The chaotic finish unfolded during Saturday’s 20-lap Sprint race at Marina Bay. Mixed conditions, triggered by a heavy downpour just before the start, left drivers battling on worn intermediate tyres on an all-but dry track. Both McLaren drivers were bottled up behind Charles Leclerc’s third-placed Ferrari as the race neared its conclusion.
On the final lap, Norris saw an opening and dived down the inside of Turn 5 in a bid for fourth place. As the two cars converged at the apex, Norris’s left-front tyre struck the right-rear of Piastri’s McLaren. The contact sent both drivers spinning. Piastri hit the barrier and suffered a race-ending retirement, while Norris managed to resume and salvage a single point by finishing eighth.
“I think the pace was very strong. Obviously we were just stuck the whole race, and the last lap there was a big opportunity into Turn 5.”
Lando Norris, McLaren driver
Norris defended the move when speaking to broadcasters following the incident, insisting that a viable gap had opened up before closing abruptly.
“I went for it, the gap closed a bit more than I would have liked. 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.”
Lando Norris, McLaren driver
Piastri Reacts as FIA Summons Both Drivers to Stewards
Piastri took a more relaxed view of the collision immediately after stepping out of his car, noting that the battle was merely for fourth and fifth position in a shortened sprint race. At the same time, the Australian pointed out the heavy workload the crash created for his mechanics.
“From where I sit I’m not…it’s for fourth and fifth for a Sprint race so I’m not that bothered either way. Just obviously it’s a lot of work now for the team to get both cars fixed. Just a shame for the team.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren driver
The FIA launched an investigation into the clash, summoning both drivers to appear before the race stewards at 19:45 local time (12:45 UK / 13:45 CEST). Driving guidelines stipulate that an attacking car’s front axle must be level with the defending car’s at the apex, a point expected to factor heavily into the stewards’ review.
Constructors’ Championship Stakes and Brundle’s Punditry Verdict
The intra-team collision cost McLaren a potential nine-point haul that would have strengthened their position in the standings. Instead, Red Bull closed the gap in the Constructors’ Championship to just 11 points behind third-placed McLaren, aided by Max Verstappen claiming a convincing victory in the sprint.
Former Formula 1 driver and pundit Martin Brundle criticized the timing and necessity of the move, noting that the team could ill afford broken parts or a destabilized weekend preparation while locked in an intense title fight.
“I think the team will be pretty upset that they met in the middle of Turn 5 on the last lap when they are in a big fight with Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship. It wasn’t really necessary. They didn’t need to make contact. It’s difficult. They can’t afford the parts, can’t afford the points, now they are in the stewards’ office which will destabilise the preparation. It wasn’t worth the risk.”
Martin Brundle, Sky Sports F1 pundit
Alongside the McLaren investigation, race officials scrutinized several other incidents from the chaotic sprint, including collisions between Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll, as well as an multi-car tangle involving Alexander Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Valtteri Bottas. Meanwhile, the start of qualifying at Marina Bay was delayed to 9:30pm local time as teams worked against the clock to repair damaged machines.
