Vettel's Advice to Piastri: Support Over Scrutiny Amidst Championship Setbacks
Sebastian Vettel advises Oscar Piastri needs unwavering team support, not explanations, as the McLaren driver grapples with recent championship setbacks. After leading the title race post-Dutch Grand Prix, Piastri's performance has dipped, marked by crashes and a loss of momentum to teammate Lando Norris. Vettel emphasizes that psychological backing is crucial for Piastri to regain his confidence and form on track.
Oscar Piastri is currently facing a challenging period in his championship bid, and according to four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, what the young McLaren driver needs most is unwavering support, not critical analysis of his recent struggles.
Why it matters:
After a strong start to the post-summer break season where Piastri emerged as a championship favorite, a series of incidents and a dip in form have seen him lose momentum. Vettel's perspective highlights the psychological demands on a driver under immense pressure, especially when competing for a title, emphasizing that internal team support is crucial for recovery and regaining confidence.
The details:
- Championship Shift: Piastri initially held a 34-point lead over teammate Lando Norris after winning the Dutch Grand Prix. However, since then, Norris has not only closed the gap but now leads Piastri by nine points following the Brazilian Sprint.
- Recent Struggles: Piastri has suffered significant setbacks, including crashes in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (opening lap), and Sprint events in Austin and Brazil. These incidents have severely impacted his points tally, scoring only 46 points compared to Norris' 90 and Max Verstappen's 121 since Zandvoort.
- Qualifying Woes: In the Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying, Piastri finished P4, while Norris secured pole position. Despite being on provisional pole in Q3, mistakes led to Piastri falling 0.375s short of Norris's time.
- Piastri's Perspective: The Australian driver admitted to media after qualifying, "Just feels like things are not flowing that easily at the moment. I had pretty good confidence in the car yesterday [Friday]. Today felt like it was a bit trickier for everybody, and I just struggled to get the most out of the car."
- Vettel's Counsel: Sebastian Vettel emphasized that Piastri is fully aware of his mistakes and does not need them explained. Instead, he needs "peace and quiet" and for his team to "stand by" him, ensuring he can "move on quickly and get back to driving freely again."
What's next:
Piastri's ability to rebound from this current dip in form will be critical for his championship aspirations. With the support of his McLaren team, as advocated by Vettel, the focus will be on helping Piastri regain his rhythm and confidence to finish the season strongly. The coming races will reveal if McLaren's support structure can help him overcome these challenges and re-enter the title fight.