Piastri Reflects on Difficult Mexican Grand Prix Amidst Teammate's Success

Oscar Piastri faced a challenging Mexican Grand Prix weekend, finishing fifth and ceding his championship lead to teammate Lando Norris. Piastri admitted to a "struggle" in understanding why a different driving approach has been necessary in recent races, deviating from what has worked for him previously.

Why it matters:

• Piastri's struggle for consistent pace, particularly compared to Norris's dominant performance, highlights the intense internal competition at McLaren and the steep learning curve for a young driver in F1.
• McLaren's recent form, underscored by Norris's commanding win, positions them as strong contenders, but Piastri's admission of difficulty suggests an area for improvement to maintain the team's upward trajectory.

The Details:

• Post-Qualifying Hopes: Piastri had hoped to unlock more potential from his car during the race, a goal he partially achieved but found difficult to fully assess while fighting through traffic.
• Driving Style Shift: The Australian noted a significant shift in required driving style over the past few weekends. What worked well for him in the initial 19 races has become less effective.
  • He described trying to adapt to this new driving requirement as "not particularly natural for me," indicating a fundamental challenge in his current approach.
• Data Analysis: Piastri is looking to post-race data for more insights into his performance, especially concerning how much progress he made in adapting his driving.
• Norris's Dominance: In stark contrast, Lando Norris delivered a stellar performance, securing pole position and winning the Mexican Grand Prix by a commanding 30-second margin.
  • Norris's victory propelled him into the championship lead, solidifying McLaren's strong momentum.

What's next:

Piastri's immediate goal is clear: "Find some more pace and win some more races." This indicates a direct challenge to his teammate and a focus on overcoming the recent difficulties.

• The upcoming races will be crucial for Piastri to adapt to the new driving demands and regain his competitive edge, ensuring McLaren continues its strong championship bid with both drivers performing at their peak.