Piastri Reflects on 'Worst Ever' Race Weekend in Baku

Oscar Piastri has opened up about his "worst ever" racing weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last September, where a "perfect storm" of issues derailed his performance, including two crashes. The McLaren driver also touched on the controversial Monza race that preceded Baku, where he was asked to yield second place to teammate Lando Norris.

Why it matters:

After a challenging start to his F1 career marked by moments like Monza's team order and Baku's disaster, Piastri's candid reflection on these setbacks highlights the immense pressure young drivers face. His ability to extract lessons from such difficult experiences is crucial for his long-term growth and championship aspirations, especially as he aims to close the gap to Norris.

The Details:

• Monza Lead-up: Piastri admitted Monza wasn't a strong performance for him, compounded by a controversial pit stop that saw him asked to cede position to Norris after initially undercutting him.
• Baku's Perfect Storm: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a culmination of several unfortunate events:
  • Engine Trouble: An engine problem in FP1 unsettled his rhythm and confidence early in the weekend.
  • Overdriving: Piastri admitted he was "overdriving" and not happy with his performance, likely trying to compensate for earlier setbacks.
  • Tricky Tyres: The C6 (softest) Pirelli compounds, known for being difficult, added another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation.
  • Cumulative Effect: He described the weekend as a "perfect storm of quite a few things" that eventually added up to a disastrous outcome.
• Learning Experience: Despite the immediate frustration, Piastri views Baku as "probably the most useful in some ways" for its technical and emotional learning.

The big picture:

Piastri emphasized that challenging weekends are a universal part of a racing driver's career. He believes that every driver experiences such moments, and the key is to learn from them. This perspective helps mitigate the immediate disappointment and allows for growth. He currently trails Lando Norris by 24 points with three rounds remaining in the 2025 season.

What's next:

Piastri remains driven by the pressure of fighting for a championship, seeing it as the ultimate goal in Formula 1. He acknowledges the discomfort and toughness but prefers to be in that position, fighting for something significant, rather than just scoring points. His ability to convert these tough lessons into improved performance will be vital as he continues his pursuit of an F1 title.