Oscar Piastri’s weekend in Azerbaijan was a cocktail of misjudgments from start to finish. After a 34-race point-scoring streak, the current Drivers’ Championship leader crashed out on the opening lap, ending his bid for Baku points prematurely. His problems began with a qualifying crash in Q3, relegating him to ninth on the grid. On race day, a jump start followed by an anti-stall sequence pushed him to the back of the pack, where he then locked up his tire braking into Turn 5 and slammed into the wall.
“It was a silly, simple error, and certainly not my finest moment,” Piastri said, taking full responsibility. “I didn’t anticipate the dirty air and grip conditions properly. I made some lapses in judgment that cost me dearly.” The McLaren driver acknowledged it was a messy weekend for his team and himself but insisted these mistakes were not a sign of pressure carrying into the title fight.
Despite the blow, Piastri remains calm and focused. “I’m not overly concerned about this one race. The key is learning from it and staying consistent. There are still seven races left, and the championship is far from over.” His teammate Lando Norris managed a seventh-place finish in Baku, closing the points gap to 25 but still trailing the Australian.
Piastri described the weekend as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in Formula 1. He reported gaining “lessons on risk” and noted his commitment to avoid repeating the errors that cost him dearly in Baku. “I’m putting this behind me and concentrating on the positives that have brought success so far.”
With the Singapore Grand Prix looming, Piastri looks ready for a reset, determined to protect his championship lead by sharpening his judgment and maintaining focus under pressure.
