Max Verstappen gives verdict on Oscar Piastri’s slump: “I would have handled it differently”. Max Verstappen describes Oscar Piastri’s recent drop in performance as “bizarre”.

The title fight nears its finale

With just three races remaining in the 2025 season, Lando Norris is firmly in control of the championship battle. Max Verstappen, who until a few weeks ago was the third contender in the internal McLaren duel, commented on Oscar Piastri’s difficult spell, calling it “bizarre” and noting that he would have approached it differently.

Three races to decide the championship

With three weekends left to consolidate or overturn the standings, Norris appears on track to achieve his dream. The last few Grands Prix have significantly changed the championship dynamics: while Piastri has delivered underwhelming performances and made several errors, Norris has consistently scored strong results.

The contrast between the two has been stark, with Oscar Piastri’s sudden decline surprising many. The Australian admitted that the weekends in Monza and Baku affected him mentally, but technical factors also contributed, as he had struggled on certain tracks even last season.

Compared to 2024, Oscar Piastri has clearly improved performance-wise, but there are still areas for growth, as acknowledged by Andrea Stella. Conversely, Norris has found a remarkable rhythm, achieving the consistency that he himself said was missing at the start of the season.

Verstappen’s brief re-entry into the title battle

This resurgence briefly raised the prospect of a third contender for the championship: Max Verstappen. After wins in Monza, Baku, and Austin, Red Bull seemed to have regained enough pace to challenge McLaren. However, in Mexico and Brazil, the overall superiority of the MCL39 resurfaced, while Verstappen managed only two third-place finishes, leaving him nearly 50 points adrift.

At this stage, catching up seems almost impossible without external events or luck. Lando Norris could finish second in all remaining races and still secure enough points for the title over Oscar Piastri. Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, one of the circuits where McLaren might struggle, Max Verstappen analyzed the situation and the form of the Woking drivers.

“I think the rapid comeback happened because all circumstances came together. After the summer break, they made some mistakes or had incidents, while we had a few good races where everything went right. That’s how you can gain ground quickly,” said the Dutch driver, explaining how he briefly re-entered the championship fight.

However, the weekends in Mexico City and Brazil reminded him that progress is not guaranteed and that McLaren still has tricks to exploit its strengths. “At some point, you return to reality and realize it won’t be the same everywhere. But at least we’ve been on the podium in the last races, which is better than mid-2024 to mid-2025. So in the end, it’s still positive.”

Verstappen’s take on Piastri

Piastri’s decline coincided with Max Verstappen’s brief resurgence. From that point, except for the Singapore qualifying, Oscar Piastri could not outperform his teammate. Verstappen described the slump as an opportunity that he himself would have handled differently.

“I don’t really have an explanation. I find it very bizarre. I didn’t expect it to happen this way, though in the end, it’s not really my problem. I don’t think he’s forgotten how to drive, but honestly, I don’t know how it’s possible,” Max Verstappen told Motorsport.com.

His father, Jos Verstappen, recently suggested that Oscar Piastri—or his manager Mark Webber—should “bang the table” during this difficult moment to show a reaction. Max added: “I think it also depends on how they operate as a team. It’s not my way of working. But that’s fine, everyone does things their own way. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I’m a bit different in that regard.”

“I don’t know what happened or didn’t happen, so it’s hard to judge. But I probably would have been a bit more frustrated, I think, when you’re so ahead and suddenly find yourself so far behind,” he added. Max Verstappen has always been very direct when things don’t go as hoped, especially with the team.

If Max Verstappen does not secure his fifth consecutive title this year, he says he can put it into perspective quickly, having experienced the difficulties with the RB21 this season. Ultimately, the anomaly was more about rejoining the championship battle than being excluded: “I’ll go on vacation anyway! I’m good at putting things into perspective and letting them go. I won’t cry about it.”