McLaren clarify viral Oscar Piastri team radio clip speculation

McLaren has addressed the viral clip of Oscar Piastri appearing to disconnect his team radio midway through Zak Brown thanking him after the Singapore Grand Prix.

The footage from an onboard camera facing the cockpit in the Australian's MCL39 showed the nine-time grand prix winner unplugging his steering wheel whilst the McLaren Racing CEO was speaking to him, after the Woking-based squad wrapped up a second-consecutive F1 constructors' championship.

McLaren has confirmed to RacingNews365 that Piastri had already turned off his car and therefore never heard the American talking to him via team radio.

Piastri had just endured a gruelling 62-lap race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where he finished fourth behind Lando Norris.

Despite starting ahead of his team-mate, the F1 drivers' championship leader saw his advantage in the standings cut to 22 points under the lights in the Southeast Asian city-state, with six rounds of the season now remaining.

It was a night of celebration for the papaya team, having dominated the campaign to seal back-to-back crowns for the first time since 1991.

The 24-year-old, however, was aggrieved by a first lap clash with Norris, who bumped into him at Turn 3, costing Piastri his starting position of third.

Unknown to him at the time, the British driver had first clipped Max Verstappen, which sent his MCL39 into the sister car.

The FIA saw nothing worth investigating, and McLaren opted not to intervene, but Piastri's disagreement was clear for all to hear over team radio.

Therefore, when a clip circulated on social media of him appearing to disconnect his radio whilst his boss was thanking him — and commiserating with him after a "tough" race — it sparked intrigue.

"Oscar, back-to-back champions! Tough race, thank you for…," says Brown before the channel is suddenly shut off.

But, it now appears Piastri was completely unaware that the American had spoken to him through his team radio channel.

There was further contention online as the team celebrated its latest title on the podium, with Piastri conspicuously missing.

This was due to the Australian fulfilling his media duties at the time, and McLaren has since explained it was never the intention to celebrate at that point.

McLaren told RacingNews365: "It wasn't our plan to celebrate then but appreciative of F1 to make that possible for the team."

A full team photo, including Piastri, was taken later.