McLaren faces crisis as FIA probes Norris and Piastri: Shocking unseen footage threatens 2025 GP ban

The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, held July 25-27 at Spa-Francorchamps, has plunged McLaren into turbulence as the FIA intensifies its investigation into Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri following the emergence of unseen on-board footage that could lead to their disqualification. The shocking evidence, widely shared on X by users like @f1_newsletter, allegedly shows a McLaren MCL38 using an illegal “mini-DRS effect” in its rear wing, prompting outrage from fans and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to accuse the team of cheating, per Motorsportsweek. With McLaren’s 1-2 finish—Piastri’s sixth win of 2025—extending a 460-point lead, the FIA’s probe threatens to expose their championship dominance as the Hungarian Grand Prix looms. The paddock is gripped by tension, with McLaren’s title hopes and legacy hanging in the balance.

The controversy erupted after McLaren’s stellar performance at Spa, where Piastri overtook polesitter Norris on the first lap after a rain-delayed start to take a 3.4-second victory, per motorsport.com. Verstappen, who finished fourth, 40 seconds back, sparked the firestorm by claiming the McLaren’s rear wing was illegally flexed to gain a speed advantage, a charge supported by Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché, who showed on-board footage to Judge 13. The newly surfaced unseen footage, posted by @junaidsamodien_ on X, appears to show the McLaren’s wing being deployed slightly outside the DRS zones, potentially violating Article 3.10.10 of the 2025 F1 Technical Regulations, which prohibits non-intensified aerodynamic gains for the race. Fan calls for a disqualification, amplified by @RacingNews365C’s tweet, “this footage is damning: the FIA must act,” prompted the FIA to step up its investigation, with a statement on July 29, 2025, confirming, “We are analysing all the evidence and will issue a post-corner verdict,” per @Fia on X.

McLaren’s dominance at Spa showcased Piastri’s precision through Eau Rouge and an effective medium tyre strategy, edging out Norris, who battled blockades in Los Angeles and a mistake by Pouhon, per BBC Sport. Norris praised Piastri, telling the Canberra Times: “Oscar drove brilliantly. I couldn’t match him.” However, unseen footage cast a shadow over their success, with former IndyCar driver Danica Patrick fueling the fire on Sky Sports F1, arguing that Verstappen’s wet weather prowess deserved the win, per The Guardian. Verstappen’s frustration, echoed his criticism of the FIA’s “overly cautious” delay to the race, led to intensified scrutiny of the race, as he argued that a faster start would have favored Red Bull’s high-powered setup, according to the Independent. McLaren’s Zak Brown denied the allegations, telling F1oversteer: “Our car is 100% legal. Red Bull grasping at straws.” However, sources within McLaren, cited by Motorsport Week, revealed “extreme concern” about potential sanctions, with insiders fearing a worst-case scenario.

The FIA’s probe could have catastrophic consequences for McLaren. A disqualification from the Belgian GP would have stripped Piastri of his victory and Norris of second place, cutting their constructors’ lead over Ferrari (222 points) and Red Bull (172 points), according to Gptoday.com. Piastri’s 16-point championship lead over Norris and 69-point advantage over Verstappen could also be reversed, according to The Athletic. The historical precedents are mixed: Ferrari overturned a 1999 Malaysian GP disqualification over illegal bargeboards, per Motorsport magazine, while McLaren’s 2007 SPYGATE scandal resulted in a $100 million fine and a constructors’ disqualification, per F1oversteer. Posts on X, such as @omicomms, suggest that McLaren’s fate hinges on the Parc Fermé compliance tests, while @NorthPolef1 warns: “A DQ would throw the championship off.” The Hungarian GP, with the tight Hungaroring layout favoring McLaren’s MCL38, will test their resilience under pressure, according to McLaren’s official website.

The controversy has deepened existing tensions, with Norris recently mocking Verstappen’s “Dodgy” strategy, per Sky Sports F1, and previous allegations of Verstappen cheating adding fuel, per Thejudge13. Red Bull’s struggles, exacerbated by the loss of Christian Horner and Adrian Newey, leave Verstappen carrying the team, scoring all but seven points, per @Northpolef1 on X. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, third at Spa, and Lewis Hamilton, who moved up from 18th to 70th, remain competitive, while Mercedes’ (Fify Russell) (13th) lag, per motorsport.com. The Formula 2 race, in which McLaren’s Alex Dunne and Arvid Lindblad were disqualified for technical infringements, brought intense scrutiny to both teams, per @omicomms on X.

McLaren’s “extreme concern,” as reported by Motorsport Week, reflects the high stakes as the FIA’s verdict looms. Fans on X are divided, with @gpfanatic22 defending McLaren’s “engineering brilliance,” while others, like @f1fanhub, are demanding justice for Verstappen. The outcome of the investigation, expected after Hungary, could redefine the 2025 season, with McLaren’s title aspirations and Piastri’s championship at risk. As F1 heads to Budapest, the fallout from the Belgian GP—driven by unseen footage, fan outrage, and Verstappen’s accusations—set the stage for a dramatic pre-summer showdown, with McLaren’s dominance and the integrity of F1 on the line.