Oscar Piastri’s difficult weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku has emerged as a clear alarm for the Australian driver, raising concerns about his current form as the championship leader. The setbacks during the race underscored the urgency for Piastri to regroup and sharpen his focus to maintain his standing in the F1 2025 title fight.
Throughout the event, Piastri experienced multiple significant errors that deviated from his usual composed performance. These mistakes came amid a broader competitive gap relative to his teammate and closest rival, Lando Norris, as well as the rest of the field. This disappointing display puts a spotlight on Piastri needing to address his pace and consistency going forward.
Struggles in Baku Underscore Need for Refocusing
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix represented one of the lowest points in Piastri’s championship campaign so far, characterized by three major problems across the weekend. Initially, his pace was noticeably below expectations, as he lagged behind Norris and other competitors, registering one of his slowest performances on record.
During qualifying, Piastri managed to reach Q3 but then crashed his McLaren MCL39 into the wall. The accident triggered a red flag and resulted in him starting in ninth position on the grid. This qualifying setback already put him on the back foot heading into the race.
On race day, Piastri made a jump start. Attempting to recover, he activated the anti-stall system unintentionally, which caused a stall that allowed the entire field to pass him before the first turn. Soon after, he collided with the barrier again, forcing a retirement that ended his streak of 34 consecutive races without a DNF.
Impact of Baku Weekend on the Championship Battle
While Piastri’s main rival, Lando Norris, also struggled to a seventh-place finish, the back-to-back errors from both McLaren drivers gave Max Verstappen an opening to claim two wins, strengthening his chances as a late contender for the season. Verstappen’s surge introduces a new variable into what had been a two-driver title fight between Piastri and Norris.
Jamie Chadwick, former racer and now an F1 commentator for Sky Sports, emphasized the critical nature of this weekend as a harsh warning for Piastri and the McLaren team. She suggested they need to hit the reset button quickly.
“I know after this weekend, they’re gonna be sick of seeing Max out front, but I think they need a reset, big time. They need a clean weekend, work out exactly where the performance of their car is,”
Chadwick said.
She added,
“And I think for Oscar, especially, this weekend is going to be a bit of a wake-up call, because I’ve never seen him like that.”
Chadwick further noted,
“That’s three big mistakes in one weekend, which is not like Oscar at all. So he needs a bounce-back weekend.”
He also needs — performance wise, he was lacking performance to Lando all weekend, as well as in Monza. So he’s to find something to really close out this title.
Jamie Chadwick, Sky Sports F1 commentator
Assessing Piastri’s Future Prospects Amid Growing Pressure
Despite the troubling signs at Baku, Piastri has demonstrated the resilience and consistency expected of a potential world champion. He has previously recovered from setbacks, such as his early crash in the Australian Grand Prix, by maintaining composure and strong performances later in the season.
However, the mounting pressure intensifies as the championship reaches critical stages. It remains uncertain how Piastri will manage the psychological and competitive stress this late in the title race, especially with Verstappen’s re-emergence and the ongoing rivalry with Norris.
Ultimately, the Baku weekend serves as a pivotal moment for Piastri and McLaren alike. How the team and driver respond in upcoming races may define their ability to sustain the championship challenge and handle the evolving dynamics of the 2025 season.
