Norris falters in Baku as Piastri drops ball – Verstappen gains ground
Lando Norris finished where he started - in seventh - in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Norris falters in Baku as Piastri drops ball – Verstappen gains ground

Piastri Crumbles in Baku – But Did Norris Waste His Chance?

Oscar Piastri suffered what team principal Andrea Stella labelled a “completely uncharacteristic” weekend in Baku, giving Lando Norris a chance to close the gap in the F1 drivers’ title race. But a muted P7 finish from Norris meant he clawed back only six points — despite Piastri failing to finish.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen continued his relentless charge, securing his second consecutive dominant win and reminding everyone that Red Bull are not out of the title race yet.

Piastri’s Error-Strewn Weekend: From Crash to Collapse

Piastri’s Baku weekend was riddled with mistakes:

  • Crashes in practice and qualifying

  • False start at lights out

  • Dropped to the back with anti-stall

  • Race-ending crash after just 5 corners

Despite his early-season consistency, the Aussie collapsed under Baku’s pressure. Piastri admitted:

“Every session was messy. It’s not the pressure — I just made too many mistakes.”

Stella added:

“It was definitely uncharacteristic. Oscar rarely makes this many executional errors. This wasn’t about pace — it was about unforced mistakes.”

Norris: Missed Opportunity or Maxed Out Result?

Piastri's crash in Baku was his first retirement since the 2023 United States Grand Prix, in his first F1 season

Piastri’s crash in Baku was his first retirement since the 2023 United States Grand Prix, in his first F1 season

While Norris escaped Baku without incidents, he also failed to shine.

  • Qualified P7 after brushing the wall at Turn 15

  • Finished P7 — unable to make a single overtake in the race

“I feel like I was close to maximising today,” Norris said. “If I started second, I would’ve finished second.”

McLaren’s Andrea Stella defended Norris’ weekend:

“We didn’t give Lando a car capable of overtaking. No other driver would’ve done better in that machinery today.”

But in qualifying, Stella admitted Lando’s error cost them:

“The lap timing was fine — Lando just misjudged Turn 15 and touched the wall. That wasn’t about strategy. That was a mistake.”

Why Was McLaren Struggling in Baku?

Both drivers highlighted the car’s instability and lack of confidence on the narrow street circuit.

“The car was on a knife’s edge,” Norris explained. “Low grip, unpredictable, just difficult to push.”

Stella confirmed McLaren expected Baku to be one of their weakest weekends:

  • No medium or high-speed corners, where McLaren thrives

  • Poor braking stability

  • Inefficient low-downforce setup

“If you’d asked me which race would be toughest for our car, I’d say Baku or Las Vegas,” said Stella. “We expected this.”

Verstappen Gains Ground – Is the Title Race Back On?

While Piastri and Norris stumbled, Max Verstappen was clinical:

  • Pole, win, and fastest lap

  • Error-free across the weekend

  • Gap to Piastri down to 69 points

Stella issued a warning:

“Max is definitely a threat. He always was. This confirms it.”

Even Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc acknowledged the shift:

“Red Bull aren’t dominating again, but Max is just doing a better job than the McLaren guys.”

Despite Verstappen needing to outscore Piastri by ~10 points per race to take the title, the momentum swing is palpable.

What’s Next: Singapore Awaits

McLaren are optimistic heading to Singapore (Oct 3–5), a high-downforce circuit that plays to their strengths.

Stella said:

“Singapore should suit us better. Hopefully, we’ll return to fighting for wins.”

But if Red Bull’s new floor upgrade continues to deliver results, the title race may yet become a three-way showdown.

Conclusion

Oscar Piastri’s collapse in Baku opened a door. Lando Norris put a foot through it — but no more.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen kicked it wide open.

In a championship fight growing tighter and tenser, every weekend counts. And Baku may prove to be the one McLaren will regret — for different reasons on both sides of the garage.

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