Oscar Piastri maintains he will not sacrifice race wins for safe points in the 2025 Formula 1 title fight, despite acknowledging a shift in his approach as he contends for a championship.
Why it matters
Piastri is currently in a close championship battle with his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris. With only nine points separating them, every race result is crucial. His philosophy of pursuing wins, even when a second-place finish might secure points, underscores his competitive drive and potential impact on the title outcome.
The context
McLaren operates under its "papaya rules," allowing both drivers to compete freely on track, with the sole mandate being to avoid collisions. This approach ensures an open fight for the drivers' championship, unlike previous years where team orders might have been more prevalent.
Piastri's approach
Piastri emphasizes a "race by race" mentality, stating that focusing on the current weekend is paramount. He believes that settling for a safe second place when a win is possible is "not a great way of going racing." His goal is to maximize performance in every session.
- Consistency vs. Wins: Piastri has scored points in every race this season, but he is unwilling to compromise opportunities for victory for mere consistency.
- Two-Horse Race: He describes the drivers' championship as a clear "two-horse race" between himself and Norris, adding a layer of direct competition that differs from previous seasons focused primarily on the constructors' title.
- Long-Term View: While the overall team objective is still the constructors' championship, Piastri's individual focus remains on extracting the absolute maximum from each weekend, regardless of the championship standings.
What's next
As the 2025 season progresses, Piastri's commitment to pushing for wins over conservative point-scoring will be a key factor in his championship pursuit against Lando Norris. His focus remains on individual race performance, aiming to leave each weekend knowing he has done his absolute maximum.