Piastri Takes Championship Lead as Verstappen Reflects on Performance
Max Verstappen commended Oscar Piastri’s impressive rise in the drivers’ championship standings following the Miami Grand Prix, where Piastri now leads the season after a string of strong performances.
Initially, Piastri faced challenges in the opening race at his home Grand Prix in Melbourne, where a mishap in wet conditions led to a ninth-place finish. This setback placed him 23 points behind teammate Lando Norris, who secured victory. However, Piastri rebounded with three wins in the subsequent four races, including a notable win against Verstappen in Saudi Arabia.
“People forget a little bit—last year was his second year,” Verstappen stated. “Now he’s in his third year, and he’s very solid. He’s very calm in his approach, which shows on track. He delivers when he has to, and that’s what you need to fight for a championship.”
Verstappen, who secured the only non-McLaren victory at Suzuka, trails Piastri by 12 points, while Norris sits just two points ahead of him. The Dutch driver emphasized the need for improved vehicle balance from Red Bull to compete more consistently:
“I think we need to find more overall performance, especially balance and consistency. We are not good at every track. Bahrain was a struggle; Saudi Arabia was better, but it’s also very low degradation, which offers other cars a chance.”
Despite the issues, Verstappen remains optimistic about finding a competitive edge, noting: “Overall, it’s been a promising weekend. We managed to find a decent balance, and that’s positive for us.”
As the season progresses, the competition intensifies with Piastri’s ascent putting pressure on Verstappen and Norris to tighten their performances.
