Verstappen Recognizes Piastri as McLaren’s More Eff… Read more
Veteran F1 commentator Martin Brundle has suggested that Oscar Piastri is proving to be a more effective driver than teammate Lando Norris at McLaren—albeit by a small margin—and that even reigning World Champion Max Verstappen is aware of this growing threat.
In the aftermath of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, Brundle reflected on the dynamics between the McLaren teammates and how they performed against Verstappen, particularly highlighting Piastri’s impressive racecraft. While Verstappen clinched pole position for the Grand Prix, McLaren was right there with him, with Norris starting alongside him on the front row.
The race began with early drama as Verstappen locked up going into Turn 1, forcing Norris off track and down to sixth place after he took to the runoff at Turn 2. Though Norris protested that Verstappen had pushed him off, the stewards did not find fault with the Red Bull driver’s actions.
Despite this incident, McLaren mounted a strong comeback. Piastri engaged in a gripping multi-lap battle with Verstappen, ultimately overtaking him and pulling away to secure a dominant lead. Later in the race, Norris also managed to pass Verstappen, allowing McLaren to finish comfortably in first and second place.
This result marked Piastri’s third consecutive Grand Prix victory, putting him 16 points ahead of Norris and 32 clear of Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Brundle emphasized Piastri’s consistency and ability to execute under pressure as key traits distinguishing him as McLaren’s sharper racer.
In his Sky Sports column, Brundle noted that Norris benefited from a timely Safety Car to win the sprint race earlier in the Miami weekend, much like his Grand Prix victory at the same venue the previous year. However, in the main event, he was caught out by Verstappen’s aggressive driving in the opening corners, which ultimately cost him a shot at victory.
Brundle explained that Verstappen was keen to prevent another scenario like the one in Jeddah, where a McLaren slipped past him into Turn 1. His overzealous defense in Miami led to a lock-up, opening the door for Norris—who initially had a clear run ahead—only to be squeezed out at Turn 2.
Despite this setback, Brundle believes Norris did all he could under the circumstances, but the overall takeaway was the rising effectiveness of Piastri. Brundle concluded that Piastri’s calm execution and ability to seize opportunities have not only impressed fans but also caught the attention of rivals like Verstappen, underscoring his growing stature in the F1 paddock.
