Another disappointing qualifying confirms Piastri’s slump. With three races to go, the fight for the championship is getting really tough
On August 31st, at Zandvoort, Oscar Piastri crossed the finish line as the winner and championship leader. With Lando Norris retiring from the race, the Australian seemed on his way to the title. But after the summer break, nothing has been the same. Beyond the race results, the qualifying trend is also worrying: five of his six worst grid positions of the season have come in the last six races — a statistic that confirms he’s going through a real slump.
The last six qualifying sessions of Piastri
The Baku weekend had already sounded the alarm: ninth place, between personal mistakes and a qualifying session made unpredictable and difficult by the rain. In Singapore there was a glimpse of improvement with a third place, but the progress didn’t continue: in Austin Piastri stopped at sixth, in Mexico he slipped to eighth, at Interlagos he finished fourth, and in Las Vegas only fifth.
On the Strip, a bit of bad luck also needs to be mentioned: in his final Q3 attempt, Piastri had to slow down due to yellow flags, missing the chance to secure a more favourable starting position. However, this doesn’t change the fact that McLaren’s number 81 never found the right balance throughout the weekend. The one-second gap to his teammate in qualifying confirms a truly difficult moment in terms of form.
Overall, this run of qualifying sessions highlights a consistent struggle to maximise the MCL39’s potential over a single lap — something that seemed unthinkable at the start of the season. The last win dates back to Zandvoort, the last podium to Monza. More than two months without a significant result: an absence far too long for a driver still fighting for the title.
Piastri is now called to bounce back — or at least to send a concrete signal to his rivals. Nothing is written for the race, but tomorrow Norris and Verstappen will have a big opportunity at the start, especially the Briton, who can deliver a significant blow in the championship fight.
Photos: McLaren, Oscar Piastri
