People in the Formula 1 paddock are pretty shocked by what’s happened with McLaren, with Jos Verstappen even calling it “quite strange.” The former racer and dad of four-time world champion Max Verstappen has shared his thoughts on the recent dip in Oscar Piastri’s form, which has come at a crucial time in the season.
The Australian driver had been leading the world championship not long ago, but a series of mistakes and poor weekends have seen him drop to second place, now behind teammate Lando Norris, who has found incredible form in recent races.
McLaren’s shifting dynamics
Before the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, Jos Verstappen spoke to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, saying he was surprised at how quickly Piastri’s momentum has disappeared.
“Piastri can’t have forgotten how to drive, can he?” he said. “If I were him – or his manager Mark Webber – I’d at least give him a piece of my mind behind closed doors. At the moment, everyone’s wondering if he can handle the pressure, and that’s not good for his reputation.”
When asked if he thought McLaren was favouring Norris, Verstappen gave a careful response.
“It might seem that way at first, but it’s not that simple. But I don’t know anything about that,” he said, before adding, “But if I were Piastri, I’d stand up for myself now. Everyone thought he was going to be the next world champion, but that changed really quickly.”
The way he says it makes it sound like Verstappen senior reckons there might be something else going on with the team dynamic at McLaren, especially with Norris’s rise happening at the same time as Piastri’s sudden slump in results.
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The turning point in Piastri’s title fight
Just a few weeks ago, it looked like Piastri was definitely going to win the title. His performances early in the season were really solid, so it looks like he’s the one to beat for the championship. But things changed a lot after two expensive accidents in Baku, and then a couple of tough weekends in Austin and Mexico City.
These setbacks not only saw Piastri lose vital points, but also his psychological edge. Norris, on the other hand, has been on a roll, nailing those drives with ease and climbing his way up to the top of the championship standings. It’s a pretty impressive turnaround, especially since the two McLaren drivers had been pretty evenly matched for most of the year.
Technical challenges and team explanations
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has tried to play down the situation, saying Piastri’s recent struggles were down to track-specific conditions rather than any internal favoritism. Stella says the tracks in Austin and Mexico were a real challenge for Piastri because of their low-grip surfaces.
“The way these circuits are designed makes it tricky for Oscar to get the most out of the car,” Stella explained. “Lando, on the other hand, seems to adapt better to such conditions.”
This suggests that the difference between the two drivers might not be about team politics, but more about how they drive. Piastri’s smooth, precise approach might not be as good when the grip levels are unpredictable, while Norris’s aggressive style helps him to find speed more easily when the track surface offers limited traction.
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Here’s what’s coming up for us in Brazil
The upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos could be a big deal for Piastri’s response to this tricky period. The young Australian is now under a lot of pressure to get back to the level where he was before, when he was the one to beat for the title.
Jos Verstappen’s comments show the wider challenge Piastri is facing. In Formula 1, your reputation can change as quickly as your race results, and a few disappointing weekends can undo months of progress.
Whether McLaren’s internal balance will continue to tilt in Norris’s favour remains to be seen, but for now, the narrative around Piastri’s title chances has clearly shifted. As the season reaches its final stretch, everyone’s eyes will be on how the Australian responds — and whether he can turn Jos Verstappen’s words into motivation rather than criticism.
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Sofia Trevena is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with an academic background in cultural studies and published research on global sport. Sofia Trevena examines Formula 1 as both a competitive discipline and a cultural phenomenon, combining scholarly perspective with journalistic analysis.
At TJ13, Sofia covers topics including the global growth of Formula 1, the sport’s cultural influence, and the historical context behind modern developments. Sofia frequently writes on Formula 1 history, drawing connections between past eras and the current competitive landscape.
Her work also explores the broader social dimensions of the sport, including media narratives, fan engagement, and the globalisation of Formula 1 as an entertainment product.
With a deep interest in the sport’s heritage, Sofia provides readers with context that extends beyond race results and headlines.
Sofia aims to highlight how Formula 1 reflects wider cultural and societal trends, offering a perspective that complements technical and news-driven reporting.
