Oscar Piastri completed second within the last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, however missed out on profitable his first F1 world championship.
The Australian missed out on the F1 drivers’ title by 13 factors to McLaren teammate Lando Norris, leaving Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen by simply two factors on the finish of a aggressive 24-race season.
Piastri had his most efficient season in F1 so far, taking seven wins and 6 pole positions, main the standings via 15 races and at one level showing to be a contender for the championship.
In the long run, it was unlucky for the 24-year-old from Melbourne, however he’ll look again on among the key moments of the yr that noticed the world title slip away from him…
stumble at house
Piastri’s first blemish of the season got here on the opening race and residential race in Australia.
Each McLaren drivers spun on the penultimate nook as rain fell within the closing levels, however situations have been worse for Piastri, who ended up caught on the grass and dropped to thirteenth place.
Piastri efficiently fought again to say ninth place, finishing a superb exterior cross on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari within the course of, but it surely was a possibility missed too early and Norris instantly gained the higher hand within the title race.
two extreme penalties
Two extreme penalties additionally price Piastri dearly in 2025.
The primary time was at Silverstone, the place Piastri, who managed the early levels regardless of heavy rain and several other incidents, was handed a 10-second penalty for erratic driving in the course of the security automobile restart.
This penalty finally price Piastri the victory, and Norris took full benefit of it to take his first victory on the British Grand Prix.
Piastri was penalized for a security automobile restart.
Piastri additionally struggled in Brazil, the place he was given a 10-second time penalty for inflicting a collision that eradicated Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc because the stewards strictly adopted tips.
Most drivers, together with Leclerc, felt the penalty was harsh. Piastri finally returned house in fifth place, shedding his second place behind Norris as he fell additional again to his teammate.
It was Piastri’s second setback in São Paulo, having fallen in the course of the dash race the day before today.
Missed two invaluable wins
Piastri was disillusioned to overlook out on a well-deserved victory in Hungary, as McLaren’s determination to separate technique unintentionally paved the best way for an unlikely victory for Norris.
Piastri would have gained in a straight battle. Nonetheless, Norris was compelled to resort to a one-stop technique after getting off to a gradual begin, and monitor place finally proved to be king, making it the race-winning transfer.
Piastri needed to cross Norris on a monitor across the circuit, which is notoriously tough to overhaul. He needed to accept second place, losing one other seven factors on Norris within the course of.
McLaren’s tactical error in Qatar price Piastri his second victory via no fault of his personal.
Monza swap controversy
Monza swap places McLaren in a clumsy place
It was in the course of the Italian Grand Prix that controversy arose when Piastri was requested handy second place again to Norris after a late pit cease prompted Piastri to fall behind his teammate.
Norris held second place for many of the race, however unusually allowed the Australian to pit first to safe a 2-3 end for his staff, solely falling behind Piastri after he was assured he wouldn’t be undercut. What McLaren did not count on was that Norris had an issue together with his pit cease.
Piastri questioned the choice, however was compelled to sit down out the staff race with three extra factors at stake, whereas McLaren set a troubling precedent that gave rise to wild conspiracy theories.
Baku Nightmare and Foam Nostril Dive
Piastri had a weekend stuffed with errors in Baku
Piastri suffered a catastrophe two weeks later in Baku, crashing out of each qualifying and the race after two inconceivable errors.
Piastri, who suffered his solely retirement in 2025, referred to as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix “the worst weekend of my racing profession.” This can be Piastri’s fourth consecutive race with out a podium end.
Because the occasion continued to be robust, Piastri struggled to seek out his tempo and gave the impression to be shedding confidence. In distinction to Norris, this might be the ultimate nail within the coffin for his championship hopes, as he peaked at precisely the correct second.
