F1’s problems are piling up: Lando Norris’s girlfriend, Margarida Corceiro, gives Oscar Piastri an ultimatum, ridiculing him: “He only won thanks to LUCK and McLaren’s favor.” Corceiro also declares that if Norris had raced alongside Piastri, he would never have been considered a legend. His comments are going viral on social media. But Oscar Piastri responds with seven words that leave Corceiro… speechless.
Tensions in the Formula 1 paddock have reached an all-time high, and this time, the issue extends well beyond the track. In a drama that has left sports fans speechless, Margarida Corceiro, a 22-year-old Portuguese model and actress who was the on-and-off girlfriend of McLaren driver Lando Norris for months, has caused a stir on social media. Her recent outburst, in which she mercilessly attacked Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, led to an ultimatum for her partner and a wave of reactions that has rocked the F1 community. The incident, which went viral yesterday on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, marks an escalation in the already heated rivalry between the two McLaren stars, who are battling for the world title this season.
It all started with a seemingly innocent Instagram post, where Corceiro shared a photo of Norris during the recent qualifying session for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. But the caption wasn’t kind. “Lando deserves better than this circus,” she wrote, referring to the constant team orders and incidents between Norris and Piastri. She then attacked the Australian directly: “He only won by LUCK and McLaren’s preference. Without those radio orders from the team, he’d be nowhere.” Corceiro, known for her fiery personality and past relationships with figures like footballer João Félix, didn’t spare Piastri. She even said that if Norris had raced at the same time as Piastri—referring to Red Bull’s dominance in previous seasons—he would never have been hailed as a legend. “Lando is pure talent, Oscar is the result of preferences,” she added, a comment that hit her like a bolt from the blue.
Corceiro’s comments spread like wildfire. Within hours, millions of users had liked and shared the post, with the hashtags #TeamLando and #PiastriLuck becoming trending topics. Fans of Norris, already a four-time winner this season and just eight points behind Piastri in the championship, hailed her as the “queen of truth.” “Finally, someone is saying it out loud,” responded one prominent F1 influencer with over half a million followers. Meanwhile, criticism from Piastri’s supporters mounted, accusing her of bias and ignorance of the sport. “This isn’t a soap opera, Magui. Respect the champion,” read one frequently quoted response. Even neutral commentators, such as former driver Jenson Button, spoke out during a live broadcast on Sky Sports, where he warned that personal attacks would further damage the McLaren team’s momentum.
Corceiro’s outburst didn’t come out of nowhere. The couple, who have been in an on-again, off-again relationship since 2023, made their romance official this year at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, where Norris claimed a resounding victory and kissed her in parc fermé. Since then, she’s been a constant presence in the McLaren garage, from Monaco to Barcelona. But their relationship hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Last month, after a crash between Norris and Piastri in Canada—in which Norris collided with his teammate and retired—rumors swirled of tensions between Corceiro and Norris. Sources close to the team reported that she asked him to stop playing the underdog. The ultimatum she gave him, according to insiders: “Choose between me and that Australian who’s stealing the title from you.” » Norris, who usually keeps his private life private, reportedly admitted in a phone call that the pressure was weighing on him, especially now that McLaren is fighting for the constructors’ title.
The rivalry between Norris and Piastri has been toxic enough this season. Piastri leads the championship with five wins, but Norris’s late surge, including a crushing victory in Hungary, has increased the pressure. Incidents such as the Hungarian team order, which deprived Norris of the lead, and the recent Singapore Grand Prix, where Piastri openly criticized Norris for his “aggressive driving,” have inflamed the situation. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has tried to ease tensions by promising “papaya rules”—a code of fair play—but critics, including Cadillac F1 boss Mario Andretti, accuse the team of favoritism toward Norris. “They are protecting the Brit at the expense of Piastri’s talent,” Andretti said in an interview yesterday.
And then came Piastri’s response, which turned everything upside down. In a short but powerful statement about X—just seven words—the 24-year-old Australian retorted: “Talent wins races, excuses don’t.” The message, accompanied by a laughing rocket emoji, was viewed millions of times within minutes. Corceiro, usually quick to respond to criticism, remained deafeningly silent. No likes, no reposts, no Instagram stories. Fans speculate that these words deeply hurt her, especially since Piastri’s argument directly contradicted her claims of “favors.” “She was speechless,” joked one F1 podcaster on its late-night show. Piastri himself, rarely provocative, appeared to have taken the initiative, but sources close to the matter whisper that he privately apologized to Norris—a gesture that visibly moved the Briton during a team dinner.
The consequences are palpable in the paddock. Ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where the title race enters a crucial weekend, McLaren called an emergency meeting to restore harmony within the team. Norris, who shared romantic moments with Corceiro in Ibiza during their summer vacation—including affectionate photos that caused much tabloid discussion—is now reportedly struggling to balance love and sport. “This is not a movie script,” he told reporters yesterday, a rare allusion to the TV drama. Corceiro, for his part, has made his account private, fueling speculation about a possible split.
For the world of F1, it’s a welcome distraction from the on-track action, but also a warning. In a sport where personal relationships and professional rivalries often collide, a single viral post can change everything. Will Norris ignore the ultimatum and focus on the title? Or will Corceiro’s loyalty push him over the edge? And Piastri, the silent championship contender, proves with his seven words that silence can sometimes be louder than a shout. As the engines roar in Texas, the real race—the race of egos and emotions—remains out of sight, but never far away. Fans eagerly await the next chapter in this thrilling drama.
