Despite a recent lack of results—Max Verstappen’s teammate hasn’t been on the podium for six races—the Australian driver continues to hold high credibility within the paddock. Formula Medicine mental coach Riccardo Ceccarelli shares what he observed during the Nevada Grand Prix, speaking with insiders behind closed doors. And the findings are truly surprising…
Riccardo Ceccarelli goes against the grain. The Tuscan mental coach was in Las Vegas and took the pulse of the paddock following a few race absences. Ceccarelli doesn’t believe that the drivers’ championship can reopen in a way that would prevent the phenomenal Max Verstappen from securing a fifth consecutive world title.
Ceccarelli believes the championship is firmly in the hands of Lando Norris, and only the British driver can lose it. But more than the analysis of the points leader, it’s Ceccarelli’s perspective on Oscar Piastri that stands out—the driver who led the championship for more than half a season before plunging into a deep results slump.
“Exiting the Las Vegas paddock after the race, aside from the biting cold that accompanied us during the Nevada weekend evenings, the atmosphere felt like a championship that was already decided. Lando Norris was firmly in command of the drivers’ standings, followed by Oscar Piastri, with Max Verstappen—extraordinary as the GP winner—effectively out of the title race. It seemed like everyone was already focused on the next championship: more talk was happening about the 2026 cars and the technical revolution than about the current world championship battle.”
Is the mood calm, or did you sense concern about a car that remains largely unknown, even with just a few months to the Barcelona tests?
“Many uncertainties still exist regarding next year’s cars and the scope of the electric power unit. Some engineers expressed significant concern over the regulations, which have changed too often throughout the year, as major doubts arose about the quality and performance of the 2026 cars.”
Then came a shock for McLaren, with the exclusion of both MCL39s due to excessive plank wear…
“It was a surprise that caught everyone off guard. The McLaren disqualification brought attention back to the current championship because 24 points with two races and a sprint remaining is not an insurmountable gap.”
Has the season outcome reopened?
“I don’t think so. For Verstappen to have a chance at the championship, something highly unpredictable would have to happen to McLaren. At this point, I don’t think Norris should fear another disaster in the final two races, unless there’s an unexpected retirement. Verstappen will aim to win both remaining GPs, but it may not be enough, especially since I don’t think Mercedes or Ferrari are in a position to challenge for the title.”
What is the mental state of the three title contenders?
“I think Sunday’s race could already be decisive. As long as Lando finishes ahead of Max, the championship is over. From what I saw, Verstappen is more relaxed than ever: the Dutchman is always smiling, calm, with nothing to lose. He has adopted a mindset of extracting the maximum from every race, taking whatever comes. He is aware he can only capitalize on others’ misfortunes.”
The tension seems to be all with McLaren…
“In the Woking team, they are building Norris’ victory, and it would be a serious blow if they were to lose the title after dominating the season.”
The one struggling appears to be Oscar Piastri, who hasn’t been on the podium since the Italian GP—six races have passed, and he seems in a slump…
“Well, I want to stress that I collected opinions in the paddock about the Australian. I expected to hear that he was in a total psycho-physical collapse given the very disappointing results after the double incident in Baku. Instead, no one spoke of a crisis for the driver.”
But the standings speak for themselves…
“I was very surprised myself: no one is labeling Oscar as ‘done,’ and there isn’t a single person who believes in his decline. It almost seems like people think a decision was made within McLaren and that Oscar Piastri was somewhat… restrained.”
How do you see it?
“That’s the impression I gathered in Las Vegas. But I won’t speculate because, knowing the McLaren environment, and Andrea Stella in particular, it doesn’t seem like a place for shadow games. Personally, I find it hard to believe McLaren made a deliberate choice. Of course, a team can prioritize a driver, but without sabotaging the other.”
“I think it’s interesting to note that Oscar Piastri maintains high credibility despite the lack of results. For comparison, there were doubts about Kimi Räikkönen’s mental resilience during his difficult period. One grey moment was enough for him to be questioned. This hasn’t happened with Oscar Piastri. It’s almost paradoxical…”
You also mentioned Antonelli: the Bolognese driver was extraordinary in Las Vegas, climbing from 17th to 3rd…
“Kimi’s race was truly remarkable in terms of pace, tactical intelligence, and defensive skill. This performance came again on an unfamiliar track for him, confirming the rule that the Italian excels on circuits new to him. We also see his growth, as he reaches a consistency that hints at an even greater step forward next year.”
As the 2025 season heads to its climax in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, one thing is clear: while the scoreboard might suggest Piastri is struggling, the people who matter most in the paddock still see the 2023 F2 champion as the real deal.
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