Oscar Piastri Must Personalize McLaren to Match Lando Norris, Says Villeneuve

Oscar Piastri's F1 title hopes are dimming as his performance has dipped compared to teammate Lando Norris. Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve suggests Piastri needs to "personalize" the McLaren car, much like Norris has, to regain his competitive edge and challenge for the championship.

Why it matters:

Piastri's recent downturn is a significant shift from his mid-season form, where he was considered a strong title contender. If he can't adapt the car to his driving style and preferences, he risks falling further behind Norris and potentially out of the championship fight entirely. This challenge highlights the critical role a driver's input plays in car development and performance in modern F1.

The Details:

• Performance Gap: Since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Piastri has struggled, allowing Lando Norris to open a 24-point lead over him and Max Verstappen to close within 25 points, despite Piastri initially being favored for the title.
• Villeneuve's Advice: Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, emphasized on Sky Sports that Norris's success stems from his ability to work with the team to "personalise" the car. He stated that Piastri must achieve the same to return to his previous level.
• Piastri's Perspective: Despite the challenges, Piastri remains positive, noting "flashes" of comfort and strong pace in the car, particularly during practice sessions in Sao Paulo.
• Weekend Struggles: Piastri admitted that the car's performance "went away" from him through the Sao Paulo weekend, indicating a setup direction he wasn't comfortable with. The Sprint crash further complicated matters.
• Ongoing Issues: He acknowledged that "a lot of things going wrong at the moment" but believes consistent strong pace is achievable, focusing on maintaining the comfortable feel he occasionally finds.

What's next:

With only three race weekends remaining, Piastri's championship aspirations are fading, but not entirely over. His ability to internalize Villeneuve's advice and work with McLaren to tailor the car will be crucial. If he can make the necessary adjustments and regain his early-season form, he might still pose a threat, though the path back to the top will be challenging against a strong Norris and a resurgent Verstappen.