Piastri Finds Key Insights in Mexico to Combat F1 Slump

Oscar Piastri has revealed he made “steps” towards unlocking more potential from the McLaren car during the Mexico City Grand Prix, offering a glimmer of hope after a challenging run of form. The young Australian, who has recently been outscored by teammate Lando Norris, believes he’s closer to understanding how to extract more pace from his car.

Why it matters:

After an impressive start to his rookie season, Piastri has faced a recent dip, consistently trailing Norris in the last five race weekends. Finding solutions to his recent struggles is crucial for his continued development and McLaren's constructor's championship ambitions, especially as Norris has now pulled ahead in the standings. A strong performance from both drivers is vital for McLaren to solidify its position as a top contender.

The details:

• Piastri started the Mexico City Grand Prix from seventh on the grid but dropped to ninth on the opening lap due to a poor start.
• Despite the early setback, he managed to climb back to finish fifth at the checkered flag, securing valuable points for McLaren.
• In the five race weekends leading up to Mexico, Piastri was consistently outscored by his teammate Lando Norris, highlighting his recent performance slump.
• Norris's dominant drive in Mexico, coupled with Piastri's fifth-place finish, allowed Norris to take the lead in their internal standings for the first time since April.
• Piastri had previously expressed confusion about his lack of pace, stating that nothing felt inherently wrong with the car while driving.
• He indicated that during the Mexico race, he began to find some answers, suggesting a potential breakthrough in understanding the car's behavior and how to optimize his driving.
• Piastri noted that the car itself was "pretty quick" in Mexico, implying his challenge was more about unlocking its full potential rather than an inherent lack of pace.
• The true extent of his findings is hard to fully gauge, as he spent a significant portion of the race battling in traffic, which can mask a car's true performance.

What's next:

Piastri is hopeful that the insights gained in Mexico will translate into improved performance in upcoming races. The next Grand Prix in Brazil will provide a clearer indication of whether these "steps" were truly significant and if he can consistently match or even challenge Norris's pace. A return to consistent strong finishes would not only boost his confidence but also strengthen McLaren's overall standing in the constructor's battle.

Between the lines:

Piastri's candid admission of confusion over his recent lack of pace, followed by his belief in having made 'steps' in Mexico, suggests a crucial period of introspection and adaptation. This kind of self-awareness and problem-solving is a hallmark of top drivers. If he can leverage these findings, it could signal a turning point in his season and potentially reignite his fierce competition with Norris, which is a win for McLaren and F1 fans alike.