Jos Verstappen Urges Piastri to 'Slam His Fist on the Table' at McLaren

Oscar Piastri's F1 title aspirations have recently diminished, drawing concern and commentary from Jos Verstappen. After holding a strong position in the championship fight, Piastri has seen a significant shift in momentum, with teammate Lando Norris taking the upper hand. Verstappen suggests that Piastri, or his management, needs to assertively address the situation within McLaren.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's pursuit of a breakthrough engine could dramatically reshape the competitive landscape of F1. A powerful yet reliable power unit is crucial for a team aiming to challenge the established frontrunners and return to championship contention, a position they haven't held consistently since 2018.

The details:

• Jos Verstappen expressed his bewilderment regarding the recent turn of events at McLaren, stating, 'I find what's happening at McLaren quite odd.'
• He believes Piastri's performance drop-off is too sudden to be attributed solely to a loss of driving ability.
• Internal Pressure: Verstappen emphasized the importance of Piastri or his manager, Mark Webber, raising concerns internally. 'If I were him, or his manager, I’d bang my fist on the table internally at least once,' he remarked.
• Reputation Management: Verstappen highlighted that the current situation is damaging Piastri's reputation, as it leads to questions about his ability to handle pressure.
• Preferential Treatment Speculation: There has been ongoing speculation about Lando Norris receiving preferential treatment at McLaren, partly due to his close relationship with CEO Zak Brown, though the team denies this.
• Verstappen acknowledges the perception of preferential treatment but refrains from judgment, stating, 'It maybe automatically smells like that, but I don’t have visibility on it.'
• Standing Up for Himself: He strongly advises Piastri to 'push back now' within the team to counter the rapidly changing public perception of his championship potential.

The big picture:

Piastri's early season performance positioned him as a strong title contender. However, the recent shift in performance relative to Norris has raised questions about team dynamics and internal support, especially given Norris's strong relationship with McLaren's leadership. This scenario is critical for Piastri's career trajectory, as a sustained dip could undermine his promising start in F1.

What's next:

The pressure is now on Piastri to address these concerns and reassert his position within McLaren. How he and his management handle this will be crucial for his championship aspirations and long-term standing in Formula 1. Observers will be watching closely to see if there is any visible change in McLaren's approach or Piastri's on-track performance in the upcoming races.