Oscar Piastri Responds to Jos Verstappen's Advice and 'Sabotage' Whispers

Oscar Piastri has addressed Jos Verstappen's advice regarding asserting himself within McLaren and has strongly denied any suggestion of 'sabotage' impacting his championship bid. The Australian driver has seen his performance dip in the latter part of the F1 2025 season, falling behind teammate Lando Norris in the Drivers' Championship with four races remaining.

Why it matters:

Oscar Piastri's recent downturn in performance, following a strong first half of the season, has sparked speculation and advice from F1 figures like Jos Verstappen. His direct denial of 'sabotage' and insistence on open communication within McLaren aims to quash rumors that could undermine his and the team's integrity as they battle for the Drivers' Championship.

The Details:

• Performance Dip: After achieving podium finishes in 13 of the first 15 race weekends, Piastri has secured only one podium in the last five, failing to reach the top three in the most recent four rounds.
• Championship Standings: Heading into the final races, Piastri is now second in the standings, just one point behind Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen 35 points further back.
• Jos Verstappen's Comments: Jos Verstappen suggested that Piastri needs to 'bang his fist on the table internally' at McLaren, implying his struggles might not be prioritized or that he's facing undue pressure.
• Piastri's Response on Team Voice: Piastri stated that he and Norris are 'always very open with each other' and 'feel very comfortable' advocating for themselves within the team. He emphasized that McLaren 'very much encouraged' drivers to make their points individually.
• Championship Dynamics: Piastri acknowledged the 'difficult dynamic' of two teammates fighting for a single championship but respects the team's approach of allowing both drivers to compete.
• 'Sabotage' Refuted: When asked directly, Piastri firmly denied any 'sabotage' or compromise to his championship challenge by the team. He attributed recent struggles to 'pretty clear answers' regarding performance and setup differences.
• Baku Outlier: Piastri described the Azerbaijan weekend as 'messy' due to various factors, including tire usage issues, but noted that 'ultimately, the pace was pretty good; I was just trying a bit too hard.'
• Recent Performance Issues: For Austin and Mexico, Piastri felt he 'executed reasonably well' but lacked lap time, indicating a performance deficit rather than external distractions. He believes they have 'some evidence as to why it's not been there' and are working to find solutions.

What's next:

With the championship battle intensifying, Piastri's focus remains on understanding and overcoming his recent performance issues. His clarification aims to stabilize team morale and public perception as McLaren pushes for its first Drivers' Championship in years. The remaining races will be crucial in determining if Piastri can regain his earlier form and challenge Norris and Verstappen for the title, all while maintaining internal team harmony.