Vettel Urges McLaren to Support Struggling Piastri

Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel has called on McLaren to provide strong support for Oscar Piastri, emphasizing the need for the team to stand by the young Australian as he navigates a recent slump. Vettel believes Piastri needs 'peace and quiet' and unwavering backing from his team to regain his confidence and 'drive freely again.'

Why it matters:

Oscar Piastri started the season with impressive performances, even holding a significant lead over teammate Lando Norris. However, a series of incidents and a dip in form have seen him lose ground, raising concerns about his confidence. Vettel's intervention highlights the critical role team support plays in a young driver's development and mental well-being, especially when facing intense F1 pressure.

The details:

• Initial Success: A couple of months ago, Piastri won the Dutch Grand Prix and held a 34-point lead over Lando Norris and a 104-point lead over Max Verstappen, demonstrating his early season potential.
• Recent Struggles: Since then, Verstappen has spectacularly closed the gap, and Norris has not only overtaken Piastri but extended his lead to 24 points.
• On-Track Incidents: Piastri crashed out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the opening lap and also had incidents in the Austin and Brazilian Sprint events, marking a string of costly errors.
• Vettel's Advice: Sebastian Vettel told Sky Deutschland that Piastri "needs some peace and quiet" and that what drivers need in such situations is "someone who is there for us and stands by us." He stressed that Piastri is aware of his mistakes and primarily needs team support to move forward.
• Piastri's Acknowledgment: Piastri himself admitted after qualifying P4 in Brazil that "things are not flowing that easily at the moment" and that he struggled to get the most out of the car.
• Qualifying Gap: He was 0.375s off Norris in qualifying in Brazil and has not out-qualified his teammate since the Singapore Grand Prix.
• Last Pole Position: Piastri's last pole position was at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.

What's next:

Piastri's ability to bounce back will be a key storyline for McLaren in the coming races. The team's response to Vettel's call for support and their strategy to help Piastri regain his form will be crucial. With the season's momentum shifting, McLaren needs both drivers performing at their peak to consolidate their position in the Constructors' Championship. How Piastri handles this pressure and whether he can rediscover his early-season magic will be closely watched.