Since Baku, something seems to have shifted in Oscar Piastri’s mindset. Until early September, the Australian was regarded as the perfect face of the next world champion: fast, clear-headed, and relentless in duels. But from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix onward, his performance changed, almost abruptly and, for many, unexpectedly. Now Max Verstappen has truly become the third contender in the championship — something no one could have predicted after the Dutch Grand Prix. “Minus 40 from Piastri after Austin? If someone had told me that in the Netherlands, I would have called them an idiot,” the four-time world champion noted wryly.
Remember: Piastri is still a rookie, albeit an evolved one
Since Baku, we’ve seen mistakes and, above all, questionable choices from the Australian driver. The latest occurred at Turn 1 in the Austin Sprint race, though we must also recall the short-sighted decision to give Norris too much space at the start in Singapore. However, just as in Singapore, the incident in Austin was clearly a racing accident, caused by the configuration of Turn 1, which can easily lead to collisions on the opening lap. What raised questions in Austin was the judgment of a championship contender — not the Oscar Piastri we knew for two-thirds of the season — as the risk was comparable to braking aggressively like Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso. But they had little to lose, while Oscar Piastri had almost everything on the line.
The point is that Oscar Piastri is in his third year in Formula 1 and is still a rookie in the truest sense. He is an extremely talented driver who has grown quickly, perhaps too quickly. Speed alone does not make a champion; it is also about managing the moment when the championship pressure truly sets in. And that is a lesson no simulation or team experience can fully teach — it comes only through living it. As the season progressed, Piastri has entered that phase where every decision carries double weight. In Baku, he made two significant mistakes, and from there the pressure started to mount. The mechanism is almost inevitable: the closer you get to the finish line, the noisier and more thoughtful the mind becomes. For a young driver, being in contention for a world title means carrying a burden that can even change how they experience every aspect of a race weekend.
World championship fight: it’s still all in Piastri’s hands
The contrast with the start of the season is clear. Back then, Oscar Piastri was cold, precise, almost impassive. Now he appears tense, more exposed, at times uncertain. But this should not necessarily be seen as a negative: it is simply the growth trajectory of a developing champion. Every great driver, before winning their first title, goes through a similar phase — learning to win not only when everything goes well, but also under immense pressure. In the last two Grands Prix, the Australian has not made reckless choices; aside from clear errors, there have been subtle missteps that a complete champion like Max Verstappen would capitalize on. Piastri is not yet at Verstappen’s level, but he has already proven he can match a more experienced teammate with seven seasons in Formula 1.
It is therefore important not to fall into pessimism when evaluating the young Australian. Maturity and experience are built through mistakes and minor misjudgments. His 40-point lead remains significant, even though more than 60 points were lost in just four races. Positively, the title fight is still in his hands, and Piastri is fully aware of this. “If we can find our rhythm again, things will sort themselves out,” he stated after the Austin race. Ultimately, Oscar Piastri must rediscover himself (the MCL39 remains reliable) starting at the next Mexican Grand Prix, proving that he is not collapsing, but learning. The distinction is subtle yet crucial: those who learn stay standing, while those who falter are lost. His talent has never been in question, but now it is time to determine whether there is already a Champion under that helmet, or if he still needs time to truly become one.
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