P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri looked in complete control of the 2025 F1 drivers’ title, before he faced a shock six-race run without a podium finish.
Former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski believes that a “mental element” played a significant role in Oscar Piastri’s downfall during the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship race. Despite becoming the favorite to win the title after Lando Norris’s retirement in Zandvoort, Piastri’s performance took a sharp decline, with multiple crashes and a six-race podium drought following his initial success. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella attributed Piastri’s struggles in the latter part of the season to the characteristics of low-grip circuits that did not align well with his driving style. Budkowski acknowledged technical and track-related challenges but also highlighted the potential mental aspects affecting Piastri’s performance, particularly evident in his abrupt decline in Baku. The drastic shift in Piastri’s performance from displaying strong mental fortitude to facing confidence issues suggests a complex interplay of factors influencing his title challenge.
