Oscar Piastri experienced a challenging weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, focusing on upcoming races rather than dwelling on the setback from his crash in Baku. The McLaren driver, who leads the championship, retired on the opening lap following a series of unusual incidents, including a jump start and a subsequent stall that pushed him to the back of the field.
Uncharacteristic Errors Lead to First Retirement in Seasons
Piastri’s impressive streak of points finishes, extending over 34 races, ended abruptly when he locked his brakes and slid into the barrier at Turn 5 on lap one. This misfortune followed a jump start and his car stalling while trying to recover, forcing him from ninth on the grid to the rear before the first corner. The retirement marked the first time since his rookie season that he failed to finish a race.
In qualifying, Piastri had already encountered difficulties with a mistake at Turn 3 late in the session, which relegated him to a starting position on the fifth row. This series of missteps was unusual for the Australian, who is usually steadfast, demonstrated by his previous race-winning drive under heavy pressure from Charles Leclerc at Baku last year.
Despite the setbacks, Piastri accepted full responsibility for the incidents without offering excuses. He said,
Image of: Oscar Piastri
“I jumped the start, plain and simple,”
according to DAZN.
“I judged it wrong. A stupid mistake, obviously, and frustrating, of course.”
Mistakes like this shouldn’t happen, but they do. We’re all human. The important thing is to turn the page and try to do better for the rest of the season.
Historic Points and Finishing Streaks Come to an End
Until this weekend, Piastri’s record had been notable, with only minor damage sustained previously such as removing a front wing in Monaco this season. His 34-race points run, which started at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2024, was the third-longest in Formula 1 history. Additionally, his streak of 44 consecutive race finishes, dating back to the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2023, ended; only Lewis Hamilton has a longer streak at 48 races spanning from Britain 2018 to Bahrain 2020.
Although Piastri retired early, his teammate Lando Norris finished seventh, meaning McLaren minimized damage in the Constructors’ battle. Points-wise, the team’s championship duel remains intense, as Piastri entered Baku 31 points ahead of Norris, now reduced to a 25-point gap with seven races left this season—just the value of one race win.
Championship Battle Between McLaren Teammates and Challenger Prospects
The fight for the world championship is primarily between McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, although Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc remain mathematically in contention. With 199 points still available through the remaining seven grands prix and three sprints, Piastri holds 324 points to Norris’s 299, Verstappen at 255, Russell with 212, and Leclerc at 165.
Despite the narrow championship race, Piastri remains cautious but confident about his position. He acknowledged,
“I’m not going to rule him out,”
referring to Verstappen.
“But I’m honestly not too concerned with that. I’m just trying to bounce back from this weekend and put in the best performances that I can.”
I know that if I get back to where I know I can be, then I’ll be more than okay, so that’s what I’m going to focus on.
Looking Ahead to Singapore After Setback in Baku
The Formula 1 season continues with the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, where last year Norris won and Piastri finished third. With tensions high and a tightly contested points table, the McLaren drivers are set to face off again while other championship hopefuls aim to close the gap.
After suffering an unexpected and frustrating end in Azerbaijan, Piastri’s resolve to recover and maintain his championship challenge has become the focus. As McLaren battles for the title, the outcome of the remaining races will be critical in determining whether Piastri can regain his earlier consistency and extend his lead over Norris and others.
