Martin Brundle Identifies Five Reasons Behind Oscar Piastri's F1 Title Collapse
Oscar Piastri's title challenge has recently stumbled, with Martin Brundle citing a combination of factors including mental state, bad luck, car setup, track suitability, and Lando Norris's strong form. Piastri trails Norris by 24 points, and his podium dry spell has stretched to five races. Piastri himself alluded to McLaren's Monza team orders as a contributing factor to his subsequent struggles. Despite the deficit, a late-season comeback for Piastri is still considered possible.
Oscar Piastri's F1 title pursuit has faltered recently, with Martin Brundle highlighting five key reasons for his struggles, including the formidable presence of teammate Lando Norris. Piastri currently trails Norris by 24 points with three races remaining, and his podium drought has extended to five events following the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Why it matters:
Piastri's recent downturn in form comes after a strong mid-season surge, making his current struggles a critical point in the F1 season. Understanding the factors behind this shift is crucial for McLaren and F1 observers, as it could impact the team's internal dynamics and Piastri's championship aspirations. A significant lead once held by Piastri has evaporated, emphasizing the highly competitive nature of the sport and the intense pressure on young drivers.
The Details:
- Brundle's Analysis: Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle attributes Piastri's difficulties to a combination of factors: his mental state, bad luck, car setup issues, unsuitable tracks, and the exceptional performance of Lando Norris.
- Mid-Season Peak: Piastri's championship campaign saw a high point after the summer break, winning the Dutch Grand Prix and securing his seventh win and 13th podium in 15 races. He added a 14th podium at the Italian Grand Prix, which marked his last top-three finish.
- Recent Struggles: Since Monza, Piastri has faced a series of setbacks, including crashes in the Azerbaijan, Austin, and Brazilian Sprints. He also received a penalty for causing a collision in the Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing fifth while Norris secured a dominant win.
- Monza Team Orders: Piastri himself has hinted at a sixth contributing factor: the team orders at Monza, where he was instructed to yield second place to Norris after a slow pit stop. He later admitted this incident, along with other pre-race and weekend issues, played a role in his "worst weekend ever" in Azerbaijan, which was the first race in his current five-race podium drought.
- Learning Experience: Despite the challenging weekend in Azerbaijan, Piastri views it as a valuable learning experience, acknowledging that even top drivers face such moments and emphasizing the importance of gleaning insights from them.
What's next:
Despite the 24-point deficit, Piastri's championship hopes are not entirely dashed. A single DNF for Norris coupled with a win for Piastri could swing the momentum back, potentially putting Piastri a point ahead. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella believes the upcoming tracks will not pose a layout problem for Piastri, suggesting that another shift in momentum in the final three race weekends is not inconceivable. The fierce internal competition within McLaren and the unpredictable nature of F1 mean the season finale in Abu Dhabi could still hold surprises.