Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen, who’s 63 factors behind Piastri within the championship however has gained two of the previous three races and completed second within the different, was requested in a information convention on Thursday in Austin whether or not he believed McLaren had been favouring Norris.
He replied: “Completely.”
He laughed, after which mentioned: “Yep.”
Leaving the information convention, he mentioned off-microphone: “Properly, there is a headline.”
BBC Sport sought clarification from Verstappen as as to whether he had been joking, and he mentioned by means of a PR individual that he had been.
In reply to the identical favouritism query, Verstappen added: “I truthfully do not know. I do not care additionally. It has nothing to do with me. They do no matter they suppose is true and they’re doing an excellent job of it being so fast.
“For me, crucial factor is we maximise our potential and so long as we try this, it’s in our management.”
Piastri mentioned: “I am very completely happy that there is no favouritism or bias.”
