Brundle on Piastri: 'We Misread Him' After Title Defeat

Martin Brundle suggests that F1 may have "misread" Oscar Piastri, whose 2025 title defeat to Lando Norris revealed a more vulnerable side than his "stone cold" persona. Despite a mid-season slump that cost him the championship, both Brundle and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella remain convinced that the Australian is a future, and potentially multiple, World Champion.

Why it matters:

The perception of a driver's mental fortitude is crucial in F1, a sport of immense pressure. Piastri's perceived invincibility was a key part of his narrative, and seeing him show cracks during a title fight provides a more nuanced look at the challenges of competing at the highest level, even for the most talented drivers.

The details:

• Piastri held a commanding 34-point lead over Norris after the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, looking on course for a title in just his third season.
• His championship challenge faltered starting in Baku, initiating a six-race podium drought that ultimately proved decisive.
• This slump included an uncharacteristically error-strewn weekend in Azerbaijan, where he crashed in both qualifying and the race.
• Brundle highlighted the significant experience disparity, noting Piastri has 82 fewer F1 starts than Norris—equivalent to three-and-a-half seasons.

Between the lines:

• Brundle believes the "unflappable aura" surrounding Piastri was challenged, suggesting he is "not absolutely stone cold, horizontal" and can be affected by pressure.
• This contrasts with the view of 2016 champion Nico Rosberg, who maintains Piastri is "mentally so strong" and "one of the strongest out there."
• McLaren's Andrea Stella downplays the psychological aspect, emphasizing the minuscule performance gap between his drivers, stating the entire season's story could be told by a "30 milliseconds" difference in qualifying.

Looking Ahead:

Despite the setback, the consensus is that Piastri's championship credentials remain intact. The 2025 season will serve as a crucial learning experience, teaching him how to manage a title fight and overcome adversity. With his rapid learning curve and the full backing of McLaren, the expectation is that Piastri will emerge stronger and be a leading contender for the 2026 championship.