Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Oscar Piastri was the victim of “small differences” in his 2025 Formula 1 title defeat, according to former F1 driver and 2014 World Endurance Champion Anthony Davidson.
After winning the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, Piastri held a 34-point advantage over his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, and a commanding 104-point lead over Max Verstappen. However, his momentum unravelled during the decisive flyaway phase of the season.
The Australian retired in Azerbaijan after jumping the start and subsequently crashing, before further setbacks in the United States and Sao Paulo Sprint events. He then recorded three consecutive fifth-place finishes in Austin, Mexico City and Interlagos, allowing both Norris and Verstappen to significantly reduce the points gap.
By the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Piastri remained mathematically in contention but ultimately concluded the campaign on 410 points — 13 behind Norris and 11 adrift of Verstappen. The outcome contrasted sharply with his earlier reputation as one of the most composed drivers on the grid under pressure.
“I don’t think he fell apart; it was just that Max and Lando got into a stride and they were getting more out of the car,” Davidson told RacingNews365.
“They had nothing to lose, and I don’t think Oscar crumbled. I just think things didn’t go his way, and he could have so easily carried the momentum on his side.”
Davidson identified the Azerbaijan incident as a pivotal moment shaped by marginal factors rather than systemic weakness.
“He could easily have not locked up in Baku and hit the wall; he might have got away with it, and if he had, he would have been world champion; he would have bagged enough points.
“We’re just talking about fine margins, like in 2021 with Max and Lewis [Hamilton], it was just those really small differences added up. So it seems like a big, dramatic thing for us, but I don’t think he has to change his approach at all.
“If you re-ran last year, he very much could win it doing exactly what he did, and with just a couple of tweaks here and there, it could be a very different outcome.”
The assessment frames Piastri’s title defeat as the product of incremental momentum swings rather than a fundamental loss of performance. Heading into 2026, the experience of a near-miss championship battle is expected to strengthen his resilience in future title contests.
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