F1 legend labels Piastri's Brazil GP as 'simply not up to mark'

10:53, 14 Nov

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byTobia Elia

Giancarlo Minardi didn’t hold back in criticizing another tough weekend for Oscar Piastri in Brazil.

“I think, unfortunately, Piastri was insufficient in this Grand Prix, as he simply wasn’t up to the mark”

- Giancarlo Minardi

The Italian manager believes the Australian’s performance in Brazil was insufficient, also highlighting the mistake he made in the sprint race, which ended his weekend and cost him more valuable points against his teammate in the championship.

“I think, unfortunately, Piastri was insufficient in this Grand Prix, as he simply wasn’t up to the mark,” he told motorsport.it. “Beyond the incident, I believe he was off the pace all weekend, probably feeling the pressure and making a series of mistakes, even in the sprint.”

Minardi also pointed out that Kimi Antonelli was one of the few drivers to spot the water Lando Norris brought onto the track during the sprint, managing to avoid a spin—unlike Oscar Piastri and several others.

Photo: Race Pictures

“In the sprint, it’s worth noting that Antonelli pulled off a masterpiece: in a split second, he spotted that Norris had left water on the track, something the drivers behind him didn’t see and ended up crashing. This highlights Antonelli’s composure, while at the same time showing Piastri’s current moment of uncertainty.”

Steiner issues bold prediction on Piastri’s McLaren future

Piastri kicked off the season by signing a major contract extension with McLaren, locking him in with the team until at least 2028, while his teammate’s deal is only valid through the end of 2027.

With no major driver-market upheavals expected, McLaren is likely to run the same lineup for the next two years.

Yet, when asked if the Australian should move on once his contract expires, the Italian-American didn’t hesitate to have his say.

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