McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella Publicly Criticizes Piastri Amidst Performance Struggles

Oscar Piastri is enduring another difficult weekend in Mexico. While his teammate Lando Norris secured pole position, Piastri appeared hampered by driving issues, resulting in a significant performance gap.

Piastri finished six-tenths of a second behind Norris in qualifying, placing him eighth on the grid instead of on a championship-contending pace. The Australian expressed his confusion, stating, "Everything feels normal, but the gap has been large all weekend. It's a mystery."

Since Singapore, Piastri has struggled with the car's balance, lacking confidence. "My qualifying was solid, the car felt reasonable. But to be so far off when you think you've done a good job is my biggest concern," he said after the Mexico City setback.

Why it matters:

Piastri's struggles come at a critical juncture in the championship battle, with teammate Norris in blistering form. A significant and consistent performance gap to his teammate, especially one leading the championship, raises questions about his adaptability and consistency under pressure. McLaren's public stance underscores the high expectations placed on their drivers and the need for continuous improvement, even for a talent like Piastri.

The details:

• Performance Gap: Piastri was six-tenths slower than Lando Norris in Mexico GP qualifying, putting him P8 while Norris took pole.
• Driver's Perspective: Piastri stated, "Everything feels normal, but the gap has been large all weekend. It's a mystery." He's been struggling with car balance and confidence since the Singapore GP.
• Team's Stance: McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella dismissed technical issues, stating, "We have measured the car multiple times – there is no technical problem. Every data point tells us: the car is fine."
• Driving Style: Stella attributed the problem to Piastri's driving style, explaining that "In Mexico and Austin, you have to drive in a certain way – with low grip and hot tires. Oscar doesn't like that. Lando, on the other hand, loves such conditions."
  • Stella elaborated that "Oscar is a driver for high grip. When the asphalt is slippery, he doesn't get into the flow as much. But that's exactly where a driver can learn the most."
• Championship Pressure: Despite leading the championship, Stella emphasized Piastri is only in his third F1 year, suggesting weekends like this are crucial for calibration and learning what it takes to be fast.
• Race Outlook: Piastri started the race from P7 due to a penalty for Carlos Sainz, acknowledging the need to unlock the car's pace. "If I can unleash the pace in the car, we can have fun. It's just about unleashing it," he said cautiously.

What's next:

Andrea Stella has called for a clear reaction from Piastri, stating, "Oscar has to show that he can adapt his driving style. Otherwise, it will be difficult to make up places in the race." Despite the criticism, Stella remains optimistic: "Oscar learns quickly. Maybe we will see progress as early as tomorrow."

If the current performance trend persists, Piastri's championship aspirations could quickly turn into a grueling mental battle, a battle Lando Norris is currently winning decisively.