Oscar Piastri has maintained a strong lead in the 2025 Formula 1 driver’s championship since the start of the season, despite intense competition from teammate Lando Norris. The ongoing rivalry within McLaren became more contentious when Piastri was accused of deliberately driving slowly during practice sessions to mislead Norris and disrupt the team’s information gathering. The Australian driver has now responded directly to these claims, clarifying his approach to practice pace throughout the season.
While Piastri has consistently delivered strong performances on race days—extending his championship lead to 34 points after Norris’s Did Not Finish (DNF) at the Dutch Grand Prix—his sometimes modest speed in practice sessions raised questions. Critics suggested he might be intentionally holding back to gain a strategic edge over Norris. However, Piastri has rejected these allegations, explaining that his slower practice starts reflect a strategic progression rather than deliberate underperformance.
He explained that a slow beginning to some race weekends is part of how he builds understanding of the track and car performance, with improvements coming as the weekend progresses. This contrasts with previous seasons when slow starts were followed by mediocre performance throughout the weekend.
“It’s happened a few times this year where it started a bit slow and then got better as the weekend went on. The difference from this year to last year is that last year, those weekends that started slow, the middle was slow, and the end was slow.” —Oscar Piastri
Furthermore, Piastri questioned whether intentionally slow practice sessions would be an effective approach to collecting car data, insisting that deliberately limiting his pace rarely happens. He acknowledged his preference for gradually building his performance but noted that at the Dutch GP, his improvement was slower than expected.
“Is it an ideal way? Am I doing it on purpose? Not always. I’m trying to build up to things, of course, but was hoping to build up a bit quicker than I did this weekend.” —Oscar Piastri
Mark Webber’s Influence on Piastri’s Racing Journey
Oscar Piastri’s recent victory at the Dutch Grand Prix brought his total number of Formula 1 race wins to nine, matching that of his manager and former F1 driver Mark Webber. The 49-year-old Webber has played an important role in nurturing Piastri’s talent from the karting stages to the highest level of motorsport. After securing parity with Webber’s achievements, the 24-year-old Piastri spoke about the crucial support Webber has provided throughout his career.
Piastri emphasized that Webber’s guidance, especially over the last five years, has been instrumental in shaping his path to Formula 1 success. Webber’s advice on crucial career decisions and strategy has grown more impactful since Piastri entered the F1 arena, helping him navigate pressures and challenges effectively.
“Yeah. He’s [Mark Webber] been very helpful through my whole career, certainly the last five years. I think once I got into Formula 1, that’s where his help has really been a lot greater and more clear. Before I got to F1 it was more in the background, helping with making the right decisions and bits of advice here and there.” —Oscar Piastri
Outlook for the Remainder of the 2025 Season
With nine races remaining in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Oscar Piastri’s focus is firmly on maintaining his lead and momentum as he aims for his first drivers’ championship. Sustaining consistent results, especially against close rival Lando Norris, will be key to his continued success. The upcoming Italian Grand Prix presents another critical opportunity for Piastri to extend his winning streak and reinforce his position at the top of the standings.
The intra-team rivalry at McLaren is expected to remain intense, but Piastri’s determination and strategic growth over the season demonstrate his readiness to claim the title. How both drivers manage this contest in the remaining races will significantly influence McLaren’s standing and the dynamics of the championship battle moving forward.
