WILL GLOVES COME OFF FOR NORRIS, PIASTRI?

In this series, The Straits Times takes a deep dive into the hottest sports topic or debate of the hour.

- Dilenjit Singh

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Formula One is rife with stories of some of the fiercest rivalries being among teammates – Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna at McLaren in 1988 and 1989, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull in 2013, and Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during Mercedes' dominant era from 2014 to 2016.

Prost and Senna had arguably the testiest of battles on the racetrack, with the fight coming to a head at the 1989 title decider at Suzuka where they collided, causing the Frenchman to retire, while Brazilian ace Senna recovered to take the chequered flag. He was later disqualified, handing Prost the championship and exacerbating their animosity.

The "papaya rules" did not apply to the McLaren duo then, unlike how it does now with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. And while the intra-team battle for the drivers' championship has been unusually chummy between them for most of the season, the gloves could finally come off after the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix.

On the opening lap at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Oct 5, the tension between the pair finally came to a head.

From fifth on the starting grid, Norris went on the inside of his teammate, clipping the rear of Max Verstappen's Red Bull and forcing Piastri so wide he almost collided with the wall.

A frustrated Piastri said on the team radio: "That wasn't very team-like", before later asking: "So, are we cool with Lando just barging me out the way?"

When he was told that the team would investigate and make a call after the Singapore race, the Australian championship leader replied: "I'm sorry. That's not fair. If he has to avoid another car by crashing into his teammate, that's a pretty s**t job of avoiding."