Piastri Dismisses Sabotage Claims as He Prepares for Championship Redemption
Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has categorically dismissed allegations of team sabotage during his 2025 championship campaign, speaking exclusively to media during pre-season testing in Bahrain ahead of next month's Melbourne Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver, who finished third in last year's championship after winning five of the first nine races, addressed persistent speculation about his team's strategic decisions that ultimately saw British teammate Lando Norris claim the title.
Parliamentary Attention and Public Support
The controversy surrounding Piastri's championship bid reached unusual heights when Nationals Senator Matt Canavan raised the matter in Australian Parliament, highlighting the national investment in the young driver's success.
"At no point were there any bad intentions or certainly no sabotage like I've seen around a few times," Piastri stated firmly. "The takeaway from that was just how closely everyone was supporting it more than anything else."
The 25-year-old acknowledged the intense scrutiny but maintained a measured perspective on the season's disappointments. "Every single season is going to have its ups and downs, and that was certainly the case last year," he reflected.
Strategic Changes for 2026
For the upcoming season, Piastri has implemented significant changes to his support structure. Long-time manager Mark Webber will step back from race weekend duties, with Melbourne-based mindset coach Emma Murray taking on an expanded role.
This strategic shift reflects a more holistic approach to performance management as Piastri seeks to become Australia's first world champion since Alan Jones in 1980.
Home Advantage and National Pride
The Christmas break in Australia provided crucial perspective for the driver, who described returning to his roots as transformative. "Just became a normal human and kind of became Oscar the person and Oscar the boyfriend, the son, the brother, rather than Oscar the F1 driver," he explained.
The Albert Park circuit will feature a grandstand named in Piastri's honour for this year's Australian Grand Prix, underlining the national significance of his championship aspirations.
"The support was up another level," Piastri noted about his homecoming. "I'm looking forward to going back home and racing."
As Australia's highest-paid athlete prepares for another championship challenge, his measured response to controversy and strategic adjustments suggest a driver determined to convert early-season promise into sustained success throughout 2026.