Piastri ‘Drops Ball’ but Did Norris Miss Opportunity?
In the high-stakes showdown for the Formula 1 World Championship, Lando Norris was banking on a weekend where his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, finally faltered. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix delivered just that—a rare stumble from the Australian—but Norris could only claw back six points, finishing a distant seventh behind Red Bull’s dominant Max Verstappen, who notched his second straight victory. This outcome has sparked endless debate: Was this a missed opportunity for Norris to close the gap, or did the Briton extract every ounce of potential from a challenging scenario in Baku?
The chaotic conditions in Azerbaijan amplified every decision, turning what could have been a pivotal moment into a tale of what-ifs. As Norris faced repeated questions about whether he let a golden chance slip away, his responses were measured, insisting he’d maximized what was possible. Yet, with Piastri’s errors handing Norris an opening, the championship fight remains a grueling uphill battle. Let’s dive deeper into the weekend’s twists, from qualifying mishaps to race-day realities, and assess if this truly was a missed opportunity in the title race.
The Chaos of Qualifying: Setting the Stage for a Missed Opportunity?
Qualifying at the Baku City Circuit unfolded like no other in F1 history, marred by a record six red flags due to crashes in slippery, unpredictable conditions. Overtaking proved nearly impossible once the race began, making Saturday’s session the ultimate decider of fortunes. Both McLaren drivers grappled with the mayhem, but Piastri’s crash relegated him to ninth on the grid. Norris, starting from a seemingly stronger position, locked in seventh—a result he attributed to venturing out first in the final three minutes after the last stoppage.
Norris explained that a light drizzle had left the track with a deceptive sheen, improving conditions for drivers who followed. Max Verstappen, snagging pole position, was second-to-last to run and capitalized perfectly. Even so, Norris pointed to his own error: clipping the wall at Turn 15, which cost him precious time. Liam Lawson, Carlos Sainz, and George Russell—all in theoretically slower machinery—outpaced him despite starting just behind.
Pressed on whether this blunder represented a missed opportunity, Norris was adamant: No, because I still did everything I could. He’d prioritized a clean run to dodge further disruptions, a strategy McLaren boss Andrea Stella defended. We are still happy with this decision, Stella noted post-session. We knew we might sacrifice a bit of lap time, but ensuring a robust lap was key. Unfortunately, Norris’s misjudgment undermined that plan, highlighting a gap between effort and optimal performance. In a car capable of more, starting seventh felt like a self-inflicted wound, especially with Piastri’s woes offering a rare edge.
Race Day: Norris Maximizes, But Was It Enough to Avoid a Missed Opportunity?
Sunday’s grand prix brought no miracles for Norris. He held his starting position, navigating a clean but pace-limited run to seventh. Reflecting afterward, Norris dismissed external perceptions: I don’t really care how people look at it. Of course, I wanted to do better today and needed to yesterday. But we went out first—this was our decision, and we paid the price. He emphasized the risks: a wall tap could have escalated into disaster, and starting higher might have netted second place.
Stella echoed this, praising Norris’s racecraft: We didn’t give Lando a car positioned to charge through the pack, and I think he had a good race. He stayed out of trouble, was clean, but lacked outright pace. Lando raced to the car’s limit—no other driver could have scored more. In a weekend plagued by rain, tricky grip, and strategic gambles, Norris’s haul of six points on Piastri narrowed the gap to within one race win. Yet, with 69 points still to chase against the ultra-consistent Australian, the Briton acknowledged the grind: I’m doing the best I can. I’ve got a lot to make up against a pretty good—incredible—driver. I just need to keep my head down.
This performance underscores the fine line in F1: Norris avoided catastrophe but couldn’t convert Piastri’s slip into a championship-defining surge. It raises questions about whether bolder risks or sharper execution could have turned a missed opportunity into momentum heading into the season’s grueling finale.
Piastri’s Uncharacteristic Stumbles: A Gift for Norris?
Oscar Piastri’s Baku weekend stood in stark contrast to his season-long poise, described by Stella as a definitely uncharacteristic display. The Australian, who’s embodied reliability amid McLaren’s resurgence, unraveled with a series of blunders. Practice was dotted with minor errors, qualifying ended in a crash, and the race began disastrously with a false start. This dropped him to the rear after an anti-stall intervention, and just five corners in, he misjudged an overtake on Esteban Ocon’s Haas, crashing out entirely.
You’re never going to feel amazing after a weekend like this, Piastri admitted. But the pace was still good—it’s rare for me to have so many executional errors. I’m focused on putting that behind me. He stressed these weren’t pressure-induced lapses from the title fight’s intensity, especially with long-haul races ahead. If I was in a different headspace, it’d be easier to blame that, but this felt like any other weekend. Just far too many mistakes from start to finish—every session was messy.
Piastri’s downfall was a clear drop of the ball, handing Norris a lifeline. Yet, without Norris capitalizing more aggressively—perhaps through a superior qualifying lap—the points swing was modest. This episode highlights Piastri’s human side, but his overall solidity keeps him firmly in the driver’s seat.
McLaren’s Pace Puzzle: Why Baku Exposed Vulnerabilities
Amid the drivers’ dramas, broader questions loomed about McLaren’s form. Norris described the car as difficult to drive, on a knife’s edge—easy to be too slow or mess up. Lacking confidence, both drivers underperformed relative to the MCL38’s potential. Stella anticipated Baku’s challenges: If you asked me the toughest track, I’d say Baku or Las Vegas. Our car excels in long, medium-speed corners—none here. It’s less effective in straight-line braking, which Baku demands heavily.
The low-downforce setup favored Red Bull, while McLaren thrives in high-downforce venues like the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix (October 3-5). Monza’s new floor boosted Red Bull, but Stella contextualized Verstappen’s dominance: Track characteristics played a role, alongside our strengths and weaknesses. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc agreed, noting, Max leaves nothing on the table. They’ve stepped up, but it’s close between McLaren and Red Bull—Max is just sharper now. McLaren’s recent inconsistencies—Baku marking back-to-back tough outings—suggest no full Red Bull resurgence, but Verstappen remains a wildcard.
Is Verstappen Still a Title Threat?
Max Verstappen’s flawless Baku weekend—pole, win, fastest lap—served as a reminder of his pedigree. Trailing Piastri by 94 points pre-race, he’s now 69 adrift but needs nearly 10 more points per round to catch up—a tall order with eight races left. Not thinking about it, Verstappen shrugged, focusing on the present.
Stella, however, underlined the danger: Yes, in capital letters—Max is in contention. We knew it, and today confirmed it. Singapore should suit McLaren better, potentially restoring their victory charge and clarifying the championship’s path. As Leclerc put it, the battle is tight, with Red Bull’s upgrades closing the gap.
In wrapping up, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix crystallized a missed opportunity for Norris: Piastri’s errors opened the door, but qualifying woes and car limitations kept it ajar at best. With the title race intensifying, Norris must sharpen his edge to avoid more such moments. McLaren’s resilience will be tested, but their drivers’ talent promises a thrilling finish.
