Oscar Piastri is not living through the calmest moment with his McLaren. In Formula 1, it’s well known that even the best drivers can go through difficult periods. Just one quiet weekend, combined with a few small mistakes, has been enough to spark the usual talk in the paddock. Oscar Piastri has seen his points advantage over Lando Norris and Max Verstappen shrink. However, the Australian cannot suddenly go from being an “iceman” to a struggling rookie lacking experience. That much is clear.
Experience is not the problem
Oscar is a proven winner, and only those who ignore his professional journey could claim otherwise. The McLaren driver has already competed in 65 Grands Prix — the equivalent of four full seasons back in Michael Schumacher’s debut days. Today’s calendars may be much longer, but that still represents plenty of experience to acquire all the necessary skills and to realistically aim for any kind of result, including the world drivers’ title.
Lewis Hamilton won his first championship after 38 Grands Prix, while Fernando Alonso achieved the same milestone after 68 races. These numbers, belonging to two absolute champions, demonstrate that success can come long before one becomes a veteran. The only essential condition is having a competitive car. McLaren has been one for roughly two-thirds of the current season — a phase in which Piastri stood out for his composure and confidence in wheel-to-wheel battles against the formidable Max Verstappen.
Just think back to the Miami Grand Prix and the nerves of steel he showed during the razor-thin duel with the Dutch ace earlier in the season in Saudi Arabia. Yet, many observers have short memories. It’s also worth remembering that Oscar won both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles at his first attempt. In those series, he truly was a rookie — but he made up for that lack of experience with his exceptional skill and intelligence behind the wheel.
Piastri’s weak point
If there is one flaw to be found in Oscar’s 2025 campaign, it might be the belief that he could manage the final part of the season comfortably after the strong results up to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Closely shadowing teammate Lando Norris may have shifted his focus away from pure performance on track to the internal battle within the garage. And in the midst of all this, the one who benefited the most was Max Verstappen, who quietly began a remarkable comeback in the standings.
There’s also another important aspect that should not be overlooked in any technical or performance analysis. This season, the Melbourne-born driver has often built up his form gradually over the course of a race weekend. On Fridays, he sometimes appeared less comfortable than Norris, only to outperform him later in qualifying and the race. This pattern highlights how crucial it is for Piastri to enjoy a clean, trouble-free weekend in order to deliver his best with the car.
Oscar Piastri is not the type of driver who can pull a miracle out of nowhere during adversity. The Australian needs several uninterrupted sessions to study his car in depth and then steer the weekend’s outcome in his favor. That particular rhythm, for various unrelated reasons, hasn’t materialized in the last four races. But the championship still offers five Grands Prix plus two sprint races — plenty of opportunities and points up for grabs.
A test of nerve and consistency
These remaining rounds will give Oscar the chance to demonstrate his full potential and defend his lead in the drivers’ standings. The young McLaren driver has already proven that he has the experience and mental resilience to recover from difficult moments without losing focus. That will be fundamental, because from Mexico to Abu Dhabi the fight between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is likely to turn into a true battle of nerves — one that could decide the outcome of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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