Piastri-Norris Austria Near-Miss Highlights Alpine Fallout

At the Austrian Grand Prix, McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri engaged in an intense but respectful battle, with Norris taking the victory and Piastri finishing second, maintaining a 15-point lead in the championship. Despite their recent clash in Canada, team boss Andrea Stella praised both drivers for their sportsmanship and handling of close racing situations, emphasizing a policy of driver equality. Piastri expressed frustration over team radio after being forced onto the grass by Alpine driver Franco Colapinto while lapping him, sarcastically remarking that Alpine "still manages to f*** me over all these years later," referencing his contentious departure from Alpine in 2022. Colapinto received a five-second penalty and two penalty points for the incident, explaining that Piastri was in his blind spot as he was focused on battling Yuki Tsunoda. This incident reignited memories of Piastri's infamous split with Alpine, where he denied signing a contract despite Alpine's announcement, ultimately joining McLaren and winning the constructors' championship with them in 2024. Meanwhile, Alpine has struggled this season, contrasting with McLaren's dominant form, as reflected in the standings and recent race performances.