'It's just mind-blowing' - Max Verstappen receives staggering praise after Oscar Piastri mistake

Verstappen's "Mind-Blowing" Overtake on Piastri

Former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski has lauded Max Verstappen's opening lap overtake on Oscar Piastri at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as "mind-blowing."

On the latest RacingNews365 podcast, Budkowski dissected the audacious move where Verstappen, despite a poor start, went around the outside of Piastri to take the lead.

Why it was "Mind-Blowing"

Budkowski highlighted the immense speed and confidence Verstappen carried through the corner, contrasting it with Piastri's perceived over-cautiousness. "The amount of speed Max carries through that corner compared to Oscar, it's just mind-blowing," Budkowski stated. He suggested Piastri might have been overly focused on George Russell, who had a good start and was positioned on the inside.

• Verstappen executed the overtake with incredible speed and confidence.
• Piastri appeared more concerned about Russell on the inside than Verstappen on the outside.
• This perceived over-cautiousness from Piastri allowed Verstappen the space to complete the pass.

Stella Defends Piastri

Despite Piastri admitting he braked too early, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella offered a different perspective, suggesting that defending aggressively at Imola could easily lead to the gravel.

Budkowski, however, felt there was a significant difference between defending assertively and Piastri's actions. He acknowledged the pressure on young drivers and believes this experience will be a valuable lesson for Piastri's development.