Stella calls Piastri’s mistakes “irrelevant”: “A weekend to learn from”
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix produced plenty of talking points, but among the most debated were the mistakes made by Oscar Piastri. A false start and misjudgments in both qualifying and the race – which twice ended with his McLaren in the barriers – seemed almost too serious to be true.
If a rookie had committed such errors, they could have jeopardized their entire Formula 1 career. What would have been said if it had been Andrea Kimi Antonelli instead? Or Franco Colapinto? And what if it had been Yuki Tsunoda? Or, more provocatively, as some have suggested, Lando Norris?
We can speculate, but we cannot know for certain. What is undeniable, however, is the reputation that the young Australian has managed to build in his short time in Formula 1 – let’s not forget that this is only his third season at the top level.
Andrea Stella defends Oscar Piastri with strong words at a crucial point in the season
Many respected figures within the paddock hold Piastri’s talent in high regard, and none more so than his team principal Andrea Stella. Speaking to the media, including RacingNews365.com, Stella wasted no time in firmly defending his driver: “Oscar’s mistakes were definitely unusual. Piastri has been the most consistent driver of the 2025 season. From my experience, even multiple world champions can sometimes have a weekend that becomes instructive.”
When attempting to explain the errors, the Italian manager from Orvieto offered a surprising perspective: “At the start I believe he was simply over-enthusiastic, and I don’t think it will happen again. As for the lock-up, he just misjudged the level of grip provided by the track surface and the tyres at that moment. On top of that, he also had a poor getaway. We will investigate, but in reality it’s irrelevant.” The word “irrelevant” was striking, and it certainly makes you think.
The reason behind such strong backing becomes clearer when considering Andrea Stella’s wider point of view: “One of Oscar’s greatest qualities is his ability to learn quickly. I am sure he will come back stronger. That ability to adapt is the reason he has succeeded in every category he has raced in, and I believe the same will happen in Formula 1. The rest of the season will give us the answer.”
It was, as noted, a powerful statement, and an important one at this stage of the championship. All year long, McLaren has been vocal – and consistent in its actions – about supporting both of its drivers in the fight for the title. But as the season draws closer to its conclusion, perhaps the balance of power within the team is beginning to shift in a very specific direction.
Leave a Reply