Car problem or lack of adaptation? The real reason for Piastri's slump
Oscar Piastri began the season as one of Formula 1's most prominent figures. His consistency, qualifying pace, and ability to consistently fight for the podium positioned him as a title contender. However, since the return from the summer break, the Australian driver has experienced a noticeable decline in his results. Although McLaren no longer has the dominant car from the start of the year, and his rivals Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari have closed the gap thanks to new updates, Piastri's performance has been even more inconsistent than that of his teammate Lando Norris.
photo: motorsport
Since the Italian Grand Prix, the Australian's results have shown a progressive decline: P3 at Monza, retirement in qualifying and the race in Azerbaijan, P2 and P3 in Singapore, retirement in the sprint at Austin, P6 in qualifying and P5 in the race, and in Mexico a modest P8 in qualifying and P5 in the race. Meanwhile, Norris has not only remained competitive, but has also demonstrated superior adaptation in these final rounds of the calendar.
This situation has led some fans to speculate about possible sabotage by McLaren toward Piastri's car. However, both the driver and team principal, Andrea Stella, have categorically denied these theories. According to Stella, the problem isn't with the car, but rather Piastri's lack of comfort with the car's handling under certain track conditions.
“We noticed that Oscar struggles to control the car when the track offers less grip and the car slides more. He can’t find the right feeling in these conditions, which prevents him from extracting his full potential. However, for Lando, this type of track is favorable and allows him to attack with confidence.”
This difference in feeling between the two drivers is evident on the fast laps: while Norris adopts an aggressive style, attacking corners to the limit, Piastri is more conservative, which causes him to lose key time in crucial sectors.
Photo: DAZN
Furthermore, the pattern of underperformance in the latter part of the calendar is nothing new for Piastri. Statistics from previous seasons show that this stage is not typically his strong suit. In 2023, he finished with a retirement, a P8, a P14, a P10, and a P6. In 2024, his results have been P1, P3, P5, P8, P8, P7, P3, and P10, showing a trend of ups and downs that matches his current difficulties.
Photo: stats f1
This suggests that this is not a conspiracy or a technical issue carried out by the team, but rather a combination of factors: championship pressure, track conditions less favorable to his driving style, and a pattern already observed in previous seasons. Thinking about sabotage within McLaren isn't logical when the team itself has reiterated that both drivers have the same equipment, opportunities, and support to fight for the championship. Rather, this decline in form appears to be part of the natural adaptation process for a young driver who is building his path to the pinnacle of motorsport.
