{"id":90820,"date":"2025-08-23T21:00:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T21:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/90820\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T21:00:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T21:00:07","slug":"oscar-piastri-great-asset-identified-by-brundle-as-title-battle-intensifies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/90820\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscar Piastri \u2018great asset\u2019 identified by Brundle as title battle intensifies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reflecting on McLaren\u2019s controversial decision making in the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix prompted Martin Brundle to reveal what he believes are Oscar Piastri\u2019s \u201cgreat assets.\u201d<\/p>\n

And those assets are all the more critical given how dramatically they differ from McLaren teammate Lando Norris\u2019 skills.<\/p>\n

Martin Brundle identifies Oscar Piastri \u201cgreat asset\u201d<\/p>\n

With the Hungarian Grand Prix leading the Formula 1 field into 2025\u2019s mandatory summer shutdown period, there has been plenty of time to reflect on the major journey McLaren has taken over the past year.<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri took his first F1 victory at the 2024 Hungarian event, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances.<\/p>\n

Piastri had an early lead of the race, but teammate Lando Norris was allowed to pit first for fresh tyres and in the process undercut Piastri to assume first place after the Australian cycled out of the pits. McLaren invoked team orders to request Norris allow Piastri by, albeit not without some frustration on the Briton\u2019s part.<\/p>\n

It put something of a damper on Piastri\u2019s inaugural F1 victory, and it raised plenty of questions about McLaren\u2019s goals, as it was Norris who was chasing Max Verstappen for the championship. But one year later, the Hungarian Grand Prix told a very different story.<\/p>\n

More on McLaren Racing:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Who is Andrea Stella? From Michael Schumacher\u2019s engineer to McLaren team principal<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49\u00a0\u2018Papaya rules\u2019 explained: What are McLaren instructing their drivers with new phrase?<\/a><\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri had a strong start at the 2025 event, but it was ultimately Norris who would take victory heading into the summer break.<\/p>\n

Whereas in 2024, Piastri\u2019s victory only saw him snag enough points to hold his fifth place in the drivers\u2019 title standings, 2025\u2019s race saw him maintain his lead despite growing pressure from teammate Lando Norris.<\/p>\n

But the year-to-year transformation provided Martin Brundle with plenty to consider on Sky Sports before the race, particularly as it pertains to the relative strengths and weaknesses of McLaren\u2019s duo.<\/p>\n

Though Charles Leclerc managed to snag pole at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, Piastri and Norris were undoubtedly quick as they\u2019d been all season, prompting Brundle to remark of their performances, \u201cThere is very little between them, and it ebbs and flows on a weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there are differences between both McLaren teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes Lando \u2014 all the tides and moons and stars align, and [he\u2019s] blisteringly fast and absolutely on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Oscar is so rock solid in his delivery. Isn\u2019t he so consistent?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s so confident, he\u2019s so calm, and that calm head when the pressure is really on in the closing stages, I think will be a great asset.\u201d<\/p>\n

With only nine points separating leader Piastri from his teammate in the drivers\u2019 standings, he\u2019ll need that level head to help him manage the pressure.<\/p>\n

Brundle also touched on just what it was that McLaren learned from its highly criticized 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, saying of the team, \u201cI think they\u2019re learning all the time, aren\u2019t they?<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they definitely manage their two drivers well, in that the drivers understand they\u2019ve got to play the team game. They\u2019re allowed to race, they\u2019re allowed to be individuals, but if you don\u2019t play the team game, it just takes some pain somewhere else, and I think they\u2019ve got that absolutely spot on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been unfortunate last year, wasn\u2019t it? They swapped the pit stops around to help one driver out when it compromised the other, but they sorted it out in the end, and I could understand Lando like, \u2018right, I\u2019m just gonna be Michael Schumacher or Sebastian Vettel; they wouldn\u2019t have handed this victory back, even if I shouldn\u2019t have had it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cSo they sorted that out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, Oscar has won a third of the Grand Prix since that moment, including that moment. So, you know, it certainly, it certainly was a nice ski slope for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read next:\u00a0Who exactly are McLaren? Liam Lawson\u2019s \u2018bullsh*t\u2019 national anthem claim explored<\/a><\/p>\n

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