The Australian arrived at the circuit where he won in 2024, mired in doubt after a lackluster performance. Experts point to his lack of adaptation to the MCL40 and his inability to keep up with a top-form Norris.
Oscar Piastri faced the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with the need to find himself again. The Australian driver who in 2024 achieved his second Formula 1 victory in Baku, arrived at a circuit that brings him good memories but at a delicate moment in his career: his performance in Madrid, described as "anonymous" by analysts has once again highlighted the difficulties he is going through to adapt to the MCL40 and to compete on equal terms with his teammate, Lando Norris.
James Hinchcliffe and Jolyon Palmer, F1 Nation experts, have analyzed Piastri's situation in depth and for Hinchcliffe the Australian's problem is not so much the memory of his crash in Baku last year as the reality of his present: "I think the ghosts of last week are more in his head than those of last year, he had his teammate on pole, it was clearly the fastest car at the end but he couldn't get close, it was one of Oscar's most anonymous weekends. He was barely mentioned, he qualified where he qualified, he raced where he raced and we really didn't hear from him" Hinchcliffe explained.
The analyst noted that the key for Piastri is to understand what Norris has found since the Hungarian Grand Prix to make that leap in performance that the Australian has not been able to match: "It's about figuring out how to close that gap with Lando, What has he found? Where does that extra come from that we haven't seen Oscar capable of matching? It's been like that all season" he added.
Jolyon Palmer provided a broader perspective on Piastri's career, the former British driver recalled that the Australian had half a season in 2025 in which he seemed a champion but that the rest of his trajectory in Formula 1 has been marked by his role as second driver against Norris: "Oscar can be grateful that McLaren is not in the championship fight, because otherwise we would be looking at him just like George Russell, he is capitulating this season, he had half a season last year in which he seemed a champion. It was incredible but when you look at his career in F1, three and a half years, half a season was amazing, three years were basically as Lando's second driver" Palmer reflected.
The analyst also noted that the MCL40 does not adapt to Piastri's driving preferences: "He's not as comfortable sliding the car as Lando, last year his car adapted a bit more to him until we got to the low-grip tracks and we saw his limitations in Austin and Mexico. He's a driver who will hope for a streak of form, but also perhaps a reset next winter, every weekend feels like a real struggle for him" he concluded.
Piastri has before him a golden opportunity to reverse his situation. However, the pressure to match Norris and his lack of adaptation to the current car are obstacles he must overcome if he wants to fight again for the top positions.
