Oscar Piastri has been characterized as a cool, almost expressionless driver, to the point that many have dubbed him the new Iceman. That same calm, combined with surprising maturity on the track, has made him a serious contender for the world championship this season, with a reputation for solidity and precision that few young drivers manage to achieve. However, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, that image was shattered: Baku revealed that, even for Piastri, mistakes are part of the journey.

The weekend was a complete disaster from the start. Despite having achieved victory at this circuit last season, nothing went right this time. On Friday, the problems began in FP1, when a power unit failure cost him valuable time. In FP2, far from recovering, he looked uncomfortable, lacking pace, and brushing against the walls on several occasions, something understandable on a street track, but which revealed a less-than-confident Piastri.

On Saturday, the situation didn't improve. In the final free practice session, McLaren didn't display the usual dominance this season, and the Australian remained erratic. Qualifying, marked by multiple red flags due to accidents, finally ruined his confidence: in Q3, Piastri crashed into the wall in a hard crash that left his car practically destroyed.

Still, there was still the race to redeem himself. But Sunday ended up being even worse. Piastri started before the lights went out, receiving a 5-second penalty. To make matters worse, he suffered an anti-stall that left him stuck on the grid, losing several positions. In his desperate attempt to make up ground on the opening lap, he made a fatal error: he hit the wall and was out of the race before completing the first lap.

“I started too early, it's that simple. I misjudged it, a stupid mistake. Frustrating, of course. That's right, mistakes like these shouldn't happen. But unfortunately, they do. Everyone is human; the important thing is to turn the page.” Oscar Piastri commented after the Azerbaijan GP.

Although Piastri's multiple errors this weekend were very evident, this was his first DNF since the end of 2023. The Australian had finished 44 consecutive races, a record surpassed only by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. However, while his poor performance in Baku was clear, critics and the public seemed to overlook it. While other drivers who did manage to finish the race, and without making as many mistakes, received strong criticism, Piastri's disaster was largely overshadowed, creating a sense of injustice towards the rest of the field.

So the question arises: are all drivers really judged equally, or just those people want to keep an eye on? It seems that some are criticized for even the smallest details, while others are allowed to make serious mistakes without further questioning, even going so far as to present them as perfect drivers, when in reality they are not.

But Baku was a clear example of this, not only denying him points, but also shattering the image of perfection that people put on him. Piastri had previously shown signs of nervousness under pressure, albeit in a more discreet manner. In Austria, while battling Lando Norris for the lead, a blockage nearly resulted in an almost collision with his own teammate. Something similar happened in Hungary, where the team had to warn him to avoid risky maneuvers against Norris so as not to jeopardize the team's result.

The Azerbaijan GP, however, was the most obvious blow: a lackluster weekend that reminded the world that no driver is untouchable. Piastri remains an extraordinary talent and a serious title contender, but Baku will go down as proof that even the “new Iceman” can buckle under pressure.

Baku shatters Oscar Piastri's “perfection”

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