Piastri: McLaren orders played role in Baku crashes

Oscar Piastri says the Monza pit-stop controversy and a “perfect storm” of issues in Baku derailed his form, sparking a slump that handed momentum to teammate Lando Norris. For bettors, this boosts Norris as the safer championship bet and suggests caution backing Piastri for race wins or podiums until his confidence and car form recover.

Piastri Admits Monza Mix-up Lingering into Baku Collapse

Oscar Piastri has conceded that the controversy at the Italian Grand Prix weighed on him heading into the Azerbaijan weekend, triggering a run of poor results that has shifted momentum in the championship fight. The stretch began after a Monza pit-stop incident in which Piastri was instructed to give second place back to teammate Lando Norris following a stop-time confusion.

How the Monza pit call unfolded

McLaren elected to pit Piastri before Norris despite him not being the lead car, concerned about the risk of an undercut from rivals. A slow pit stop then shuffled Norris behind Piastri, and the teammates swapped positions. Piastri has not returned to the top step since that sequence of events, a moment he now accepts affected him more than he expected.

Baku: “The perfect storm” of issues

Piastri described the Azerbaijan weekend as his “worst weekend” in racing, citing a run of compounding problems. He admitted to overdriving on Friday, struggling with set-up, and being unsettled by an engine issue in first practice. The team ran the new C6 Pirelli compound that weekend, which he called notoriously tricky, and errors in qualifying and the race left him scoreless — a turning point that precipitated a dip in form.

Championship Implications and Betting Considerations

The results from Monza and Baku cost Piastri valuable points and handed Norris an advantage in the title fight, leaving Piastri 24 points adrift with only a few races left. From a betting perspective, Norris currently represents the steadier option for matchups and outright outcomes, while Piastri’s recent loss of momentum suggests bookmakers and punters should be cautious about backing him for wins or consistent podiums until he re-establishes form.

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Lessons Learned and Outlook for Remaining Races

Despite calling Baku a low point, Piastri framed the episode as a crucial learning experience — technically and emotionally. He stressed that even top drivers experience catastrophic weekends, and extracting lessons is key to recovery. With the season closing, how quickly Piastri translates that learning into calm, consistent performances will determine whether he can claw back championship ground or whether Norris consolidates the advantage.

Oscar Piastri has admitted that McLaren's team orders at the Italian Grand Prix were still on his mind when he suffered a disastrous crash-heavy weekend at the next round in Baku.

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