Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen Dutch Grand Prix

Photo: Race Pictures

Piastri plays down Verstappen title charge: ‘Not too concerned’

13:15, 23 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Oscar Piastri stated that he is "not too concerned" with Max Verstappen's current form amid a potential return to the 2025 title battle.

I know that if I get back to where I know I can be, then I'll be more than okay

- Oscar Piastri

Max Verstappen made it two wins in a row after taking P1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Photo: RacePictures

The current championship leader suffered a shock performance in Baku, crashing out on the first lap as he saw his lead in the standings cut.

Verstappen's back-to-back wins at the Italian Grand Prix and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix have now put the four-time world champion back into the title discussion, with him and Red Bull rediscovering their form.

"I don't know. I'm not going to rule him out, but I'm honestly not too concerned with that," Piastri explained when asked about Verstappen rejoining the title battle

"I'm just trying to bounce back from this weekend and put in the best performances that I can. And I know that if I get back to where I know I can be, then I'll be more than okay. So that's what I'm going to focus on.

"It can go both ways for you. If Max is in the middle of us [Piastri and Lando Norris, ed.] and I'm ahead, then it's good for me. If it's the opposite way around, then it's bad for me. So there are positives and negatives to that.

"But, ultimately, I want to make sure that my performances are at the level that they should be, and then I'll let the rest play out."

Verstappen putting pressure on Piastri

In what has been an impressive and consistent season so far for Piastri, the lap one crash around the Baku City Circuit was a major blip.

For just the third time this season, the Australian was not on the podium, seeing his 324-point tally, which leads the standings, cut to 25 points, with teammate Norris behind in P2.

However, with Verstappen now sealing win number four in 2024 and making it two wins on the spin, the 27-year-old has brought himself back from the brink of elimination to become involved in a title battle.

Currently, the Red Bull Racing driver has 255 points to his name, 69 points away from Piastri at the top. Still, nothing has been ruled out by Verstappen himself after the race in Baku, and advisor Helmut Marko also did not rule out the potential for a fifth consecutive title.

There was plenty of praise for Verstappen too as he finds his way back to the front of the grid, with a former member of the Red Bull top team, and now Sauber team boss, Jonathan Wheatley, full of praise for the Dutchman's performance.

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.