For the second consecutive F1 race weekend, Oscar Piastri emerged successful in a direct battle with Max Verstappen, ultimately securing a victory.
After strategically forcing Verstappen to cut the first chicane in Saudi Arabia, leading to a penalty, Piastri once again overtook the Red Bull driver in Miami. This performance, according to the source text, culminated in his fourth victory of the season and an extension of his championship lead over teammate Lando Norris to 16 points.
In the main Miami race, Norris had an opportunity to close the points gap to Piastri. However, his opening lap attempt to overtake pole-sitter Verstappen resulted in losing positions and time later in the race.
These events prompt the question of whether Piastri displays a more calculated approach when racing competitors, particularly Verstappen, compared to Norris – a potentially crucial factor in this year`s title contention.
F1 commentator Martin Brundle observed, “Oscar`s racecraft is strong. He clearly has an advantage over Norris in terms of race strategy and execution.”
Brundle added, “Norris might have a slight edge on raw pace when everything clicks. But Piastri consistently gets the job done, completes overtakes successfully, avoids errors, and secures wins.”
Piastri`s Approach to Racing Verstappen
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix seemed to be a statement from Piastri to Verstappen. The McLaren driver perfectly exploited the rulebook using a tactic that Verstappen himself might typically employ.
Following contentious incidents between Verstappen and Norris in previous seasons, especially during heated championship moments, the F1 Driving Standards Guidelines were revised ahead of the current season.
These updated rules effectively allow the driver on the inside of a corner to push their rival wide, provided they themselves remain within track boundaries and are not required to leave space on the outside.
Piastri executed this flawlessly in Saudi Arabia, leaving Verstappen in a situation where he had to either back down or cut the corner. He chose the latter and subsequently received a penalty.
Piastri commented, “I`m starting to understand what you can and can`t do around Max. In Saudi, I did what was necessary to win the race for myself.”
Starting fourth in the Miami Sprint, Piastri demonstrated patience rather than immediate aggression. He gained a spot when Norris went wide at Turn 2, quickly passed Antonelli, and then set his sights on challenging Verstappen for the lead.
Piastri spent several laps trailing Verstappen, who defended effectively. On Lap 14, he successfully pressured his rival into a mistake at the first corner.
Piastri reflected, “Even though it took me a fair few laps to get past him, that was probably the most efficient way I could have overtaken him.”
He continued, “Watching and racing Max over the years, I`ve learned that being on his outside isn`t a favorable position. I needed a different strategy. It felt inevitable that I would pass, but choosing the right moment was crucial.”
Norris`s Encounters with Verstappen
Norris has had his share of intense battles with Verstappen, including a collision during a fierce fight for the lead at a previous Austrian Grand Prix.
In a later event, Norris incurred a penalty for a controversial off-track overtake on Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix.
Just one week later in Mexico City, Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties for leaving the track and gaining an advantage against Norris, in an incident that ultimately prevented Norris from winning that race.
In their most recent clash at the start of the Miami main race, while a similar move might have resulted in a penalty for Verstappen in previous years, this season`s updated Driver Standards Guidelines allowed the Red Bull driver to push Norris wide, despite a slide.
Norris commented on the incident, stating, “If there`s an opportunity, I`ll go for it. I won`t back down. I`m here to race.”
Like Piastri in the Sprint, Norris also found himself behind Verstappen for several laps before eventually getting past.
The British driver felt that Verstappen`s aggressive defense against the notably faster McLarens was “not very smart.”
However, this raises the question: did Norris err by not simply falling in behind Verstappen in second place after the initial corner?
While commentators Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson believed Norris was right to commit given his traction advantage, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suggested that “with hindsight, it might have been potentially wiser for Lando to ease off.”
Whether Piastri would have acted differently is hard to say, but as Norris points out, drivers often face criticism unless an aggressive move results in a clear win.
Norris lamented, “If I don`t go for it, people complain. If I go for it, people complain. So, you can`t win.”
He added about racing Verstappen, “It often feels like a choice between colliding or not passing him at all. You need to execute the move flawlessly and position him perfectly to barely get ahead. I paid the price for not doing a good enough job.”
Piastri vs. Norris: A Difference in Racing Style?
Perhaps the contrasting public demeanours and personalities of Piastri and Norris – Piastri being cool and collected, Norris more emotional and open – lead some to believe they have different racing approaches.
Piastri is often perceived as calm, while Norris tends to show more emotion and is generally more outgoing.
Both are exceptionally fast, and the real test in their competition will be how they race each other for the same piece of track. Despite external appearances, McLaren boss Stella maintains there is no fundamental difference between his drivers on track.
Stella remarked, “We shouldn`t overanalyze these situations. As I`ve said, it often comes down to mere fractions of a second or a metre.”
He concluded, “Regarding overtaking maneuvers, precision, and determination, I believe our two drivers are equally capable.”
