For the second consecutive Formula 1 race weekend, Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in a battle against Max Verstappen, ultimately winning the race.
Following a strategic move in Saudi Arabia where he aggressively forced Verstappen off track, resulting in a penalty, Piastri once again overcame the Red Bull driver in Miami. This secured his fourth win of the season and widened his championship lead over teammate Lando Norris to 16 points.
Norris had a chance to close the gap on Piastri in the championship on Sunday, but he lost positions early in the Miami race while attempting to overtake pole-position holder Verstappen and subsequently fell further behind.
This sequence of events has sparked discussion on whether Piastri demonstrates superior tactical intelligence in racing opponents, especially Verstappen, compared to his teammate Norris. This difference in approach could prove significant in the championship battle this year.
According to Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle, “Oscar`s racecraft is impressive. He definitely has an advantage over Norris in terms of racecraft.”
Brundle added that while Norris might have a slight pace advantage when everything aligns perfectly, Piastri is consistently delivering results, executing overtakes, avoiding errors, and securing victories.
Piastri `Starting to Understand` How to Race Verstappen
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix seemed to be Piastri`s way of signaling his capabilities to Verstappen. The McLaren driver masterfully utilized the updated regulations, employing a tactic that Verstappen himself is known for.
Following contentious incidents involving Verstappen and Norris during the intense title race last year, the Formula 1 Driving Standards Guidelines were revised before the start of the current season.
These updated rules effectively permit a driver on the inside line to push their competitor wide, provided they remain within track boundaries themselves, eliminating the previous requirement to leave space on the outside.
Piastri executed this maneuver flawlessly in Saudi Arabia, creating a scenario where Verstappen had to either yield or cut the corner, ultimately leading to a penalty for the Red Bull driver.
Piastri commented to Sky Sports F1, “I`m beginning to grasp the dynamics of racing alongside Max, understanding what is permissible and what isn`t. In Saudi Arabia, I simply did what was required to secure the win for myself.”
Starting from fourth on the grid in Miami, Piastri adopted a patient approach rather than immediate aggression. He gained a position when Norris went wide at Turn 2, swiftly passed Antonelli, and then focused on finding an opportunity to overtake Verstappen for the lead.
Piastri trailed Verstappen, who defended effectively, for several laps before ultimately pressuring his rival into an error at the first corner on Lap 14.
“Although it took me quite a few laps to make the pass, that was likely the most efficient way I could have overtaken him,” Piastri stated.
“Watching and racing against Max over the years, I`ve learned that being on the outside is rarely advantageous. So I needed to attempt a different strategy. It felt less like a question of `if` and more `when` I would pass, but selecting the opportune moment was key.”
How Do Norris`s Race Battles with Verstappen Compare?
Norris had a significant encounter with Verstappen`s aggressive racing style at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, where the two collided during an intense fight for the lead.
Subsequently, Norris received a penalty for a controversial off-track overtake on Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix.
The very next week in Mexico City, Verstappen was given two 10-second time penalties for exceeding track limits and gaining an advantage against Norris, although these penalties ultimately didn`t prevent him from hindering Norris`s bid for victory.
Their most recent encounter in Miami demonstrated the impact of the updated rules. While a similar incident last year might have penalized Verstappen, the current Driver Standards Guidelines permitted the Red Bull driver to force Norris wide, even after experiencing a slide.
“If a space opens up, I`m going to commit to it. I won`t hesitate. I`m here to compete,” Norris commented after the race.
Similar to Piastri, Norris also spent several laps unable to pass Verstappen before eventually being allowed through.
The British driver felt Verstappen`s aggressive defense against the clearly faster McLarens was “not very smart.”
However, could Norris have made a better tactical decision by simply slotting in behind Verstappen in second place after the first corner incident?
Sky Sports F1 analysts Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson felt Norris was right to attempt the move given his superior traction, but McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suggested that “in retrospect, it might have been wiser for Lando to ease off.”
Whether Piastri would have acted differently in that situation is debatable. As Norris pointed out, critics often judge a move solely on its outcome, regardless of the reasoning behind it.
“If I don`t go for the move, people complain. If I do go for it, people still complain. You simply can`t satisfy everyone,” Norris remarked.
“But that`s how it is when racing Max – it`s effectively either risk a collision or fail to overtake. You need to execute the move flawlessly and position him perfectly to stand a chance. I paid the price in Miami for not executing well enough.”
Is There a Noticeable Difference in Racing Approach Between Norris and Piastri?
The contrasting personalities and public demeanor of Piastri and Norris might lead some observers to perceive a difference in their racing styles on track.
On one hand, Piastri is often seen as cool and composed, whereas Norris tends to display more emotion and be more outwardly expressive.
Both drivers possess exceptional speed. The true test of their racing will come when they directly compete against each other for position. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella maintains there is no fundamental difference in their on-track approach.
Stella stated, “Therefore, I believe we shouldn`t draw overly strong conclusions from specific incidents. As I mentioned earlier, outcomes are sometimes decided by mere fractions of a second or a meter.”
He concluded, “Regarding overtaking maneuvers, precision, and determination, I genuinely don`t perceive any significant difference between our two drivers.”
