For the second consecutive F1 race weekend, Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in a battle against Max Verstappen, ultimately winning the event. Following an aggressive move in Saudi Arabia that forced Verstappen off-track and resulted in a penalty, Piastri once again overtook the Red Bull driver in Miami.
Norris had a chance to close the points gap on Sunday but lost positions at the start while attempting to pass pole-sitter Verstappen, and subsequently lost time to him later in the race.
This has prompted discussion on whether Piastri displays greater tactical intelligence in racing rivals, especially Verstappen, compared to his teammate Norris – a potentially vital aspect in this season`s championship contest.
According to Sky Sports F1`s Martin Brundle, “Oscar`s racecraft is strong. He clearly has an advantage over Norris in terms of racing skill.”
Brundle added, “Norris is slightly quicker when everything comes together. However, Piastri is consistently performing, executing overtakes, avoiding errors, and securing wins.”
Piastri Learning How to Race Verstappen
In the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Piastri seemed to lay down a challenge to Verstappen. The McLaren driver skillfully exploited the rules with a strategy Verstappen himself might employ.
Following contentious moments between Verstappen and Norris during last year`s escalating title battle, the F1 Driving Standards Guidelines were revised before the current season.
These updated regulations permit the driver on the inside to force their competitor wide, provided they remain within track boundaries, eliminating the requirement to leave space on the outside.
Piastri executed this manoeuvre flawlessly, creating a scenario where Verstappen had to either yield or cut the corner, the latter of which he did, incurring a penalty.
Piastri commented to Sky Sports F1, “I`m beginning to understand the limits of racing against Max. In Saudi, I did what was necessary to win that race.”
Starting fourth in Miami, Piastri adopted a patient approach rather than an aggressive one. He gained a position when Norris went wide at Turn 2, swiftly passed Antonelli, and then focused on challenging Verstappen for the lead.
Piastri trailed Verstappen for several laps as the latter defended stoutly, eventually pressuring his competitor into an error on lap 14 at the first corner.
Piastri stated, “Even though it took quite a few laps to overtake him, that was probably the most effective way I could have done it.”
He added, “From years of watching and racing against Max, I learned that being on his outside is rarely advantageous. I needed a different approach. It felt inevitable that I would get past, but choosing the right moment was crucial.”
How Does Norris Race Verstappen?
Norris experienced racing Verstappen first-hand during the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, where they collided amid a heated battle for the lead.
Later that season, Norris received a penalty for an off-track overtake on Verstappen during a controversial moment at the United States Grand Prix.
A week later in Mexico City, Verstappen was given two 10-second penalties for exceeding track limits and gaining an advantage against Norris, actions that ultimately prevented Norris from winning the race.
In their recent Miami encounter, although a similar move might have incurred a penalty for Verstappen last year, the revised Driver Standards Guidelines meant the Red Bull driver was permitted to run Norris wide, even after sliding.
“If there`s an opportunity, I`m going to take it. I won`t back down. I`m here to compete,” Norris commented post-race.
Norris also spent time trailing Verstappen, similar to Piastri`s situation, but was held up following their Turn 1 incident.
The British driver felt it was “not very smart” for Verstappen to contest so fiercely against the clearly faster McLarens.
However, the question arose whether Norris missed an opportunity by not simply settling into second place behind Verstappen after the initial corner.
While Sky Sports F1 analysts Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson felt Norris was right to attack given his superior traction, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suggested that “with hindsight, it might have been wiser for Lando to ease off.”
It`s difficult to say if Piastri would have made the same decision. However, as Norris noted, critics would likely fault his choice unless the move resulted in success, regardless of the circumstances.
“If I don`t go for the move, people complain. If I do, people complain. You can`t win,” remarked Norris.
“But that`s how it is with Max – it`s either a collision or you don`t get past. You need to execute the move perfectly and put him in a specific situation to barely make it stick. I paid the price for not doing a good enough job.”
Is There a Difference in Approach Between Norris and Piastri?
The differing off-track demeanours and personalities of Piastri and Norris might lead some observers to believe they race with different styles.
Piastri is often seen as cool and collected, while Norris tends to display more emotion and openness.
Both drivers possess exceptional speed. The true test will be how they race head-to-head. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, however, maintains there is no fundamental difference between his drivers` racing styles.
Stella stated, “Therefore, I don`t believe we should read too much into specific situations. As I`ve said before, sometimes it comes down to mere fractions of a second or a metre.”
He concluded, “Regarding overtaking precision and determination, I see no difference between our two drivers.”
