Oscar Piastri in 2025 Italian GP @RacePictures

Piastri hit with 'he’s going to regret' dig after McLaren swap in Italian GP

20:21, 12 Sep

Updated: 22:13, 12 Sep

byTobia Elia

Nelson Piquet Jr believes that Oscar Piastri could regret giving the position back to Lando Norris at the Italian GP at the end of the season.

Oscar Piastri in 2025 Italian GP @RacePictures

''He’s going to regret this a lot if he loses the championship by less than three points''

- Nelson Piquet Jr

Nelson Piquet Jr weighs in on the McLaren swap at Monza

The son of the legendary Brazilian world champion, speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast, commented on the position swap imposed on the two McLaren drivers, stating that Piastri now has a “credit” with the team—but also made a decision he could regret by the end of the season.

“In my opinion, Piastri is earning credit with the team. If things get tighter toward the end, he has a card to play. I think he has an advantage, okay, but that doesn’t mean much, with still eight or nine race to go.''

''There are over 200 points still up for grab. He’s just 30 points ahead. So, you see, that can turn around. Two weekends can change the whole situation However, he’s got the right mindset.''

He then added: ''I’d manage things carefully, not taking too many risks since I have a small advantage. But I also think he’s being a bit of a team player, so that later he can say, ‘I helped a lot.’''

''He really didn’t need to give the position back because of a team error. Obviously, he’s going to regret this a lot if he loses the championship by less than three points.''

''I don’t think that will happen; I think he’ll win the championship. But this decision wouldn’t have been made if there were only three races left. There’s still a bit more than a third of the season to go. If there were only three or four races remaining, I doubt he would have done it.”

Could Piastri regret giving the position back to Norris?

While Lando Norris seemed set for an easy second place ahead of his teammate in the Italian GP before his final pit stop.

Norris had come in for his last stop after his teammate, despite being ahead on track, but a slow pit stop cost him precious seconds and the position to the Australian.

This suddenly gave Piastri the chance to extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 37 points—if it weren’t for the McLaren pit wall asking him to give the position back, which he promptly did.

Piastri thus ended up losing not only second place but also three crucial points, which could prove decisive in the battle for the title between the two.