Helmut Marko has expressed concerns about Oscar Piastri’s performance as he aims to revitalize his World Championship campaign in Mexico City. Piastri has been overshadowed by both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in the past four Grand Prix events.
During the first free practice session of the weekend, Piastri recorded the fourth-fastest time but trailed Charles Leclerc by four-tenths of a second, with nine rookie drivers also on the track. However, in the second practice session, he dropped to 12th place, over six-tenths slower than his teammate Norris, a title contender.
Marko, the Red Bull advisor, remarked to Sky Germany that Piastri seemed to be struggling, emphasizing the need to address his current issues. Despite Piastri’s strong performance earlier in the season with seven Grand Prix wins, a setback in Baku has affected his form.
In Austin, Piastri’s performance raised concerns as he lagged behind other cars, finishing fifth in the Grand Prix after a forgettable weekend that included a crash in the Sprint race with Norris.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella discussed Piastri’s challenges, showing confidence in the driver’s resilience. Stella acknowledged areas for improvement for both Piastri and the team in recent races. He highlighted Austin’s unique track conditions with low grip, emphasizing the learning curve for young drivers like Piastri.
Stella further elaborated on Piastri’s development, noting how the driver adapts and learns from each race experience. Despite the setbacks, Stella believes Piastri’s ability to learn quickly contributes to his leadership in the championship standings.