F1 problems escalate: Lando Norris’ girlfriend Margarida Corceiro has issued an ultimatum and ridiculed Oscar Piastri: “He only won thanks to LUCK and the favor of MCLAREN.” Margarida Corceiro also claimed that if Norris had raced in the same era as Piastri, he would never have been hailed as a legend. Her words went viral on social media. But Oscar Piastri responded with seven words that left Corceiro… speechless.

Tensions within the Formula 1 paddock have reached a new peak, and this time it is taking place far away from the track. In a drama that has left sports fans reeling, Margarida Corceiro, the 22-year-old Portuguese model and actress who has been the on-and-off girlfriend of McLaren driver Lando Norris for months, has exploded a bombshell on social media. Her recent outburst, in which she mercilessly attacked Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri, has led to an ultimatum to her partner and a wave of backlash that is rocking the F1 community. The incident, which went viral on platforms such as X and Instagram yesterday, marks an escalation in the already brewing rivalry between the two McLaren stars, who are fighting for the world title this season.

It all started with a seemingly innocent post on Instagram, where Corceiro shared a photo of Norris during recent qualifying for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. But the caption was anything but friendly. “Lando deserves better than this circus,” she wrote, referring to the ongoing team orders and incidents between Norris and Piastri. She continued with a direct attack on the Australian: “He only won because of LUCK and the favor of MCLAREN. Without those team radio orders he would be nowhere.” Corceiro, known for her fiery personality and past relationships with figures such as footballer João Félix, did not spare Piastri. She even claimed that if Norris had raced in the same era as Piastri – citing Red Bull’s dominance in previous seasons – he would never have been hailed as a legend. “Lando is pure talent, Oscar is a product of favors,” she added, a comment that hit home like a bolt of lightning.

Corceiro’s words spread like wildfire. Within hours, millions of users had liked and shared the post, with hashtags like #TeamLando and #PiastriLuck trending. Fans of Norris, who has already recorded four victories this season and is only eight points behind Piastri in the championship, hailed her as a ‘queen of truth’. “Finally someone is saying it out loud,” responded a prominent F1 influencer with more than half a million followers. On the other hand, there was criticism from Piastri supporters, who accused her of bias and ignorance about the sport. “This is not a soap opera, Magui. Respect the champion,” read one oft-quoted reply. Even neutral commentators, such as former driver Jenson Button, joined the debate during a live broadcast on Sky Sports, where he warned that personal attacks would further undermine team dynamics at McLaren.

Corceiro’s outburst did not come out of nowhere. The couple, who have had a turbulent relationship since 2023, made their romance official this year at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, where Norris scored an emotional victory and gave her a kiss in the parc fermé. Since then she has been a regular in the McLaren garage, from Monaco to Barcelona. But the relationship is not without bumps. Last month, after a crash between Norris and Piastri in Canada – in which Norris hit his teammate and retired himself – there were whispers of tensions between Corceiro and Norris. Sources close to the team said she urged him to “stop playing the underdog.” The ultimatum she gave, according to insiders: “Choose between me or that Australian who steals your title.” Norris, who normally protects his private life, is said to have admitted in a telephone conversation that the pressure is getting to 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’ late surge – including a dominant win in Hungary – has piled on the pressure. Incidents such as the Hungarian team order, where Norris had to hand back the lead, and the recent Singapore GP, where Piastri openly criticized Norris for ‘aggressive driving’, have soured the atmosphere. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella tried to calm the mood with promises of ‘papaya rules’ – a code for fair play – but critics, including Cadillac F1 boss Mario Andretti, accuse the team of favoritism towards 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 the whole affair upside down. In a short but powerful statement on X – just seven words long – the 24-year-old Australian hit back: “Talent wins races, excuses don’t.” The post, accompanied by an emoji of a laughing rocket, was viewed millions of times within minutes. Corceiro, who normally responds quickly to criticism, remained deafeningly silent. No like, no repost, no story on Instagram Stories. Fans speculate that the words affected her deeply, especially since Piastri’s point directly contradicts her claim of “favors.” “She’s been left speechless,” an F1 podcast joked on their evening show. Piastri himself, who rarely indulges in trash talk, seemed to take the high road, but insiders whisper that he privately asked for forgiveness from Norris – a gesture that visibly moved the Brit during a team dinner.

The aftermath is palpable in the paddock. Ahead of the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, where the title fight enters a crucial weekend, McLaren has called an emergency meeting to restore team harmony. Norris, who shared romantic moments with Corceiro in Ibiza during the summer break – including PDA photos that sent the tabloids into a frenzy – is now said to be struggling with the balance between love and sport. “This is not a movie script,” he told reporters yesterday, a rare nod to the soap opera-like twist. Corceiro, meanwhile, has made her account private, which only fuels more speculation about a possible breakup.

For the F1 world, this represents a welcome distraction from the track action, but also a warning. In a sport where personal relationships and professional rivalries often clash, one 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 champion candidate, proves with his seven words that silence is sometimes louder than shouting. While the engines roar in Texas, the real race – that of egos and emotions – remains far out of sight, but never far away. The fans can’t wait for the next chapter in this papaya drama.