With twenty-four points to recover and eighty-one still available, Oscar Piastri needs to reverse a trend that has not been in his favor. Few believe this is possible, but his manager has openly discussed the difficulties Piastri has faced since Baku, highlighting the positives achieved by the rookie in only his third Formula 1 season. The former Red Bull driver offered a clear perspective.
Webber told Channel 4 that they would work to turn things around. He stressed that Oscar Piastri does not lack motivation, but has experienced a challenging period. According to Mark Webber, Oscar Piastri can overcome it with character—an essential trait to get back into contention.
He also reminded fans that this is just Oscar Piastri’s third season in Formula 1. Mark Webber praised his incredible progress, noting that competing for a world championship so early in a career is something only Lewis Hamilton has managed recently, and that very few drivers have reached such heights in their first three seasons.
Webber concluded that this context should be considered when evaluating Oscar Piastri’s current situation. He added that he will continue to encourage him, but sees him motivated and committed to working hard.
Piastri reflects on his 2025 challenges
Oscar Piastri discussed his 2025 season on the podcast F1 Beyond the Grid, reflecting on the unprecedented intensity of a year that has for the first time seen him as a contender for the Drivers’ Championship. He described the Baku weekend as the worst of his career, also recalling the Monza incident two weeks prior, when he had to give up position to Lando Norris after a pit stop problem.
Speaking about Baku, Oscar Piastri explained that it was a combination of factors. He arrived at the track following a difficult Monza weekend and was still affected by the pit stop situation. Furthermore, some aspects of the weekend preparation in Baku were not particularly helpful, and he experienced a mechanical issue during FP1.
“I wasn’t happy with my driving,” he said. “On Saturday I tried to make up ground, but the C6 tires were difficult to manage. I asked too much and pushed too hard, which led to the qualifying incident.”
He also admitted that the early start on Sunday contributed to the challenges. “I may have been too eager to regain positions at the start, but overall it was the perfect storm—a terrible weekend, the worst I’ve experienced in motorsport.”
Relationship with Norris
Regarding his relationship with teammate Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri did not report any problems. He explained that information sharing between them remains unchanged and their rapport has even improved. Being in their third season together, they understand each other better, which helps significantly.
“We both keep things on track private, though there may be some heat in the moment. We work very well together and want similar things from the car and the team. Over time, we’ve understood subtle differences in our preferences, but overall setup goals align,” he said.
The rivalry with Webber
Piastri also mentioned Mark Webber in reference to a light-hearted dispute that started months ago: overtaking Webber’s tally of Formula 1 Grand Prix wins. Both are currently tied at nine victories. “We joke about it all the time,” Oscar Piastri revealed. “Whenever I win a race, someone points out I’m catching up to Mark, but when I finally overtake him… believe me, he’ll be happier than I am.”
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