McLaren clinch constructors’ amid rising tensions

MCLAREN clinched the Formula One constructors’ title, but their drivers’ tempers frayed in the heat of a Singapore Grand Prix won by the Mercedes of George Russell.

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Here, we highlight three talking points from Sunday’s night race — one of the most physically brutal tests of man and machine on the motor racing calendar.

Gloves off for Piastri and Norris

With the constructors’ championship safely tucked away for a second successive season, the question now is: will McLaren let the gloves come off in a head-to-head fight for the drivers’ title?

If the start of the Singapore Grand Prix was anything to go by, the battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris over the final six races could be very spicy indeed.

Norris forced his way past Piastri into third place, barging his teammate aside in a wheel-to-wheel flashpoint.

After his crash in Baku two weeks ago and a petulant “it’s not fair” outburst on Sunday, Piastri’s uber-cool persona from earlier in the season is fading fast.

Norris has reduced the deficit on the Australian to 22 points as they head to Austin in two weeks — but, more importantly, he appears to have taken the psychological high ground.