Oscar Piastri refuses to answer McLaren question after Lando Norris controversy

Oscar Piastri refused to delve into the 'repercussions' dealt to team-mate Lando Norris after Ted Kravitz probed the Australian driver ahead of the United States Grand Prix. McLaren conducted an internal review after an opening-lap incident caused controversy at the last race in Singapore.

Norris started the race from fifth on the grid with his team-mate in third, but by the time they reached Turn Three, they were side-by-side. However, with Verstappen right in front of him, the Brit was forced to jolt to the right to avoid heavy contact with the Red Bull car. In doing so, he bumped wheels with Piastri, who was fortunate to avoid the outside wall.

Piastri demanded on the radio that Norris hand over the position after exiting the corner behind him, but McLaren opted against taking action. However, following an internal review back at headquarters, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown sided with their Australian star.

Norris confirmed as much in Austin and showed no sign of discontent with the internal ruling. "Things were reviewed, and there are and will be repercussions for me until the end of the season," he told Sky Sports F1.

He later elaborated: "The rule is to not crash with each other. This wasn't a crash, it was something much smaller, but we still don't even want to get it to that point because it causes these kind of things, and that's never a good thing. We and the team want to avoid those kind of things happening again.

"Simply for the reason there was contact between two McLaren cars. Zak and Andrea don't want that to happen, and I think as teammates, we don't want that to happen. So, of course, that's the reason for why I was held accountable. It has consequences."

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Speaking to Piastri, Sky Sports F1 reporter Kravitz attempted to prise out some information about the "repercussions", but the 24-year-old refused to disclose the finer details about McLaren's review.

"I can't say what the repercussions are," Piastri declared. "That's for the team to know. Let your imagination run wild, Ted. Ultimately, he has taken responsibility for it, and there is a form of repercussion for that, yes." Asked if he would tell him what it is, he replied bluntly: "No."

Heading into Sunday's race in Austin, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points in the Drivers' Championship standings. However, momentum is on the Brit's side. The 25-year-old has beaten his team-mate in each of the last three Grand Prix weekends, and six of the last eight.