Source:REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
[Saba Sports News] Just a few months ago at the Dutch F1 Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri held a massive 34-point lead at the top of the standings, seemingly just one step away from the F1 world championship. In that race, Norris retired, and Piastri coolly took victory. It was widely believed that the young Australian was heading for the peak of his career. However, after just a few races, everything turned around. With Norris’s dominant performance at the Mexican F1 Grand Prix, Piastri’s lead was completely erased; he now trails by 1 point and has become the chaser. This sudden drop in form caught the attention of Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen. In an interview, he stated, “The current situation at the McLaren team is strange; Piastri couldn’t suddenly forget how to drive. If I were him, or his manager, I would definitely be slamming the table inside the team.” Piastri’s losses and Norris’s rise have led to renewed speculation outside the team that McLaren internally favors letting Norris win the championship. Although this conspiracy theory lacks evidence, Jos Verstappen believes Piastri can no longer remain silent and should fight for more fairness within the team. Otherwise, the pressure of public opinion will continue to affect his confidence and rhythm. In our view, Verstappen’s father’s perspective is quite reasonable. After all, during the critical phase of a championship fight, psychological games are often more lethal than speed.