Bottas Tells Piastri F1 'Isn't Fair' After 2025 Title Collapse

Valtteri Bottas has offered a stark reality check to Oscar Piastri following the Australian driver's dramatic collapse in the 2025 Formula 1 title fight. After holding a commanding lead mid-season, Piastri lost the championship to Lando Norris, prompting Bottas to reflect on the harsh realities of the sport.

Why it matters:

Piastri's stumble from a comfortable 34-point lead to a third-place finish underscores the mental and political challenges of fighting for a world championship. For a driver in just his third full season, experiencing the "unfair" side of team orders—like the controversial switch at Monza—is a harsh but necessary lesson in navigating top-tier motorsport.

The details:

• The Fall: After winning at Zandvoort in August, Piastri led Norris by 34 points and Max Verstappen by 104. He finished the season P3, 13 points adrift of champion Norris.
• Turning Point: The Monza team orders, where Piastri was asked to surrender P2 to Norris, are widely viewed as a psychological blow that shifted momentum toward his teammate.
• Bottas' Take: Speaking in Adelaide, the veteran Finn—who spent years supporting Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes—emphasized that "sometimes this sport’s not fair." He believes Piastri's first half was superior but backed him to learn from the experience.

Looking Ahead:

As Piastri regroups for 2026, Bottas is preparing for a fresh start with the new Cadillac team alongside Sergio Perez.

• Realistic Expectations: Bottas admitted he has "no idea" where the team stands competitively but emphasized that progress matters more than the starting point.
• Testing: The squad faces an immediate test with three days of running next week to gauge their true pace against the established grid.