Oscar Piastri Faces Challenges in F1 Championship Race
Piastri's Recent Struggles
New Delhi, Nov 4: Oscar Piastri's recent decline in performance has cost him the lead in the Formula 1 championship. Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, suggests that these struggles indicate Piastri may have already reached his peak.
During an appearance on Sky Sports’ The F1 Show before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Villeneuve pointed out that Piastri's difficulties in keeping up with his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, are likely due to him having already performed at his maximum earlier in the season. He noted, “At the start of the season, Lando wasn’t at his best, and we thought Piastri was excelling. But was it really Piastri improving, or was Lando just not performing well? Lando mentioned he was uncomfortable with the car, which might have led to Piastri becoming a bit complacent. When your only competition is your teammate, you might not push yourself to the absolute limit.”
Piastri seemed poised for his first Drivers’ Championship title after winning the Dutch Grand Prix in late August, putting him 34 points ahead of Norris. However, he has since struggled, failing to secure a win in the last five races and not finishing on the podium in the last four, allowing Norris to take the championship lead following a strong performance at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Villeneuve believes the pivotal moment came when Norris regained his form. “Suddenly, we saw Baku and Max winning everything, and Lando stepped up his game. He’s driving faster and better than he has all season,” he stated. “Piastri, on the other hand, is not improving. He was already at his limit, and when you need to push for those extra tenths, issues with the car can arise.”
The former champion noted that Piastri's recent mistakes, including crashes during qualifying and the race in Azerbaijan, as well as a failed overtaking maneuver that affected both McLaren drivers in Austin's Sprint, are signs of a driver overexerting himself. “When you drive within your limits, the car feels perfect. You can manage your tires easily. But when you need to push harder, everything can go wrong, and you may not even understand why,” Villeneuve explained.
He dismissed the notion that the McLaren car's performance was to blame for Piastri's downturn. “The McLaren hasn’t changed significantly, so there’s no reason for a different driving approach. The tires remain the same, with only minor variations. The track conditions may change, but the differences aren’t drastic,” he said. “When your teammate improves, it can create pressure, leading to tension and a downward spiral in performance.”
Villeneuve emphasized that such mental challenges are common when drivers face faster teammates. “You start questioning your driving style. You analyze the data and see your teammate is quicker in certain corners, prompting you to change your approach, which can lead to mistakes. It’s crucial to remember what worked well and just make slight adjustments,” he advised.
With only four races left, beginning with this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Piastri is just one point behind Norris in what has become a fiercely competitive title race.