F1 world erupts as Oscar Piastri dudded by McLaren in Japan GP

The Formula 1 world has been left up in arms after Australian driver Oscar Piastri was robbed of chasing a second straight win.

Formula 1 fans have been left scratching their heads after McLaren appeared to botch a chance at victory during the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri started from second and third on the grid with Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen on pole position.

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In the end the race finished the way it started with the four-time champion holding off his rivals to claim his first win of the season.

And while Verstappen received and thoroughly deserved all of the praise, McLaren found themselves in the gun for costing themselves and potentially Piastri a shot at victory.

McLaren’s biggest issue once again reared its head in the latter stages of the race with Piastri telling the team he had the pace advantage over Norris.

With Norris never able to get within DRS range of Verstappen, Piastri sat stuck behind his teammate in dirty air.

Oscar tells McLaren he is quicker.

Despite being all over the back of his teammate, McLaren never made the call to switch the drivers around to see if Piastri could hunt Verstappen down.

The Aussie driver after the race said his suggestion wasn’t even up for consideration with the team electing to hold position.

“There wasn’t much (debate on whether to swap) … I felt if I had track position I could go and get Max but that’s what happens when you qualify behind, unfortunately. I at least asked the question and I think that was a fair response,” Piastri said.

Oscar was hot on the heels of his teammate.

McLaren’s decision to not even attempt a different strategy with one of their drivers and get them into free air came under heavy fire with many believing they shot themselves in the foot at the Suzuka Circuit.

“Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli proved that going long and using the car in free air, it worked. I just don’t understand why McLaren didn’t do that at least with one of their cars,” Anthony Davidson said on Sky Sports.

“Maybe they’ll have their reasons, but at least one of their cars should have used the potential of this amazing beast around this track.

“It’s clear to me that this car is faster than the Red Bull on this track, it has been all week especially on the long run. I just don’t understand why at least one of them didn’t have free air today. They’ve sat in dirty air the entire race.”

Ted Kravitz added: “If you’re McLaren and you get outqualified by Max Verstappen, this is exactly what happens … you lose the race.

“This has got to be the first operational mistake and lost opportunity in this championship for McLaren so far this year.”

McLaren didn’t want to swap the drivers around. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Many believed the call should have been made to have the drivers swap positions and if Piastri couldn’t get ahead, to hand the position back to Norris.

But the team held firm in a move that Sky Sports Naomi Schiff says has become a trend for them.

“He looked like he (Piastri) was a little bit racier, some of the excuse was the turbulent air but Oscar would have been in that air as well and he said that Lando was saving his tyres,” Schiff said.

“It feels like they always want to run things on the conservative side rather than taking any gambles or any risks and just being more on the racy side.

“They want to get some safe points on the board, they’re thinking about the long game and not necessarily the individual wins.”

It wasn’t to be for Oscar on Sunday. (Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)

Fans watching on were left irate with many blasting McLaren for not even giving Piastri the chance to go after Verstappen.

One wrote on X: “That’s why you guys don’t win the WDC, could’ve swapped the cars, and if Piastri could not get Max, swap again for Lando as Leclerc was pretty far behind bottled this potential race win.”

A second wrote: “Another race, another win thrown away by cowardly strategy.”

A third added: “Piastri showed he had more pace today than Norris, even without DRS, but you chose to ignore the data, he had the pace to catch Max but didn’t act on it by switching drivers.”

A fourth bemoaned: “You clowns need to stop protecting glamour boy Lando. It’s embarrassing and cost you a chance of victory.”

The Formula 1 paddock will return to the track next weekend for the Bahrain Grand Prix which will take place on Monday, April 14 from 1am (AEST).

Originally published as F1 world erupts as Oscar Piastri dudded by McLaren in Japan GP