Oscar Piastri came agonisingly close to claiming his first Formula 1 drivers’ championship in 2025, but a late-season slump saw him narrowly lose to teammate Lando Norris by just 13 points. The Australian had looked dominant for much of the campaign, leading the championship standings for 15 of the 24 races and securing five victories in the opening nine rounds. His seventh win of the year at Zandvoort appeared to cement his position as the favourite for the title, leaving many to believe the championship was well within his grasp.
Veteran F1 driver Carlos Sainz reflected on Piastri’s 2025 season, suggesting that the young Australian caught Norris off guard with his pace and consistency early in the year. However, Piastri struggled to maintain his advantage in the latter part of the season, dropping critical points across the final nine races. Controversy over team orders at Monza added to his difficulties, followed by a disastrous weekend in Azerbaijan that seemed to mark the start of a downward trajectory. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted that “hesitations” crept into Piastri’s driving in Baku, a factor that ultimately proved costly in his pursuit of the championship.
With only three podium finishes in the last nine events of the season, Piastri ended 2025 in third place overall, behind Norris and Max Verstappen. It was a disappointing finish considering the strong position he had held mid-season, yet the 24-year-old appears determined to learn from the setbacks and return stronger in 2026.
James Hinchcliffe believes Piastri is in an ideal position to challenge for the 2026 F1 title
As Formula 1 prepares for major regulation changes in 2026, McLaren will be aiming to maintain a competitive edge over the rest of the field. If the team can continue to provide a front-running car, Oscar Piastri is expected to be in prime position to mount another title challenge. Former IndyCar driver and current F1 analyst James Hinchcliffe has highlighted Piastri’s potential, noting that the young Australian is exceptionally well placed to compete for the championship next season. Hinchcliffe drew parallels with how Norris learned to challenge Verstappen after his narrow loss in 2024, suggesting that Piastri could follow a similar trajectory if the machinery is on his side.
Hinchcliffe wrote on the official F1 website that 2025 represented a breakthrough year for Piastri. Despite having only 70 races under his belt, the Australian pushed all the way to the end against Verstappen and Norris, who had both taken longer to achieve their first titles—after 141 and 152 starts, respectively. Observing Piastri’s natural progression from his second to third season, combined with Norris’ reflection that his own loss in 2024 helped prepare him for a successful 2025, Hinchcliffe concluded that Piastri is “very well positioned to be a championship contender regularly in the future.” He added that if McLaren can deliver a race-winning car under the new 2026 regulations, the quick-learning Piastri is likely to make another leap forward and mount a serious title bid.
Factors that cost Piastri the 2025 championship
Several elements contributed to Piastri falling short of the 2025 crown. Team orders occasionally worked against him, but the Australian also made errors that ultimately hindered his chances. McLaren engineers noted that the MCL39’s characteristics, particularly on low-grip circuits, posed challenges for Piastri’s driving style. He was forced to make adjustments that were not naturally suited to his approach, which contributed to the loss of performance relative to his teammate and affected his championship aspirations.
Despite these setbacks, Oscar Piastri can take significant pride in his 2025 season, especially given the improvement he demonstrated over his rookie campaign in 2024. Analyst Jolyon Palmer highlighted Piastri’s progress in qualifying, noting that he had closed the gap to Norris. Maintaining and building on that momentum will be a key factor for his success in the 2026 season as McLaren seeks to return to the very top of the Formula 1 standings.
Leave a Reply