Piastri’s calm approach thrives where Norris struggles

Oscar Piastri stands as Formula 1's man of the moment.

With three consecutive grand prix victories, the Australian has transformed from promising rookie to championship frontrunner, now leading teammate Lando Norris by 16 points in the drivers' standings.

The Miami Grand Prix marked Piastri's third straight victory, continuing a remarkable run of form that has seen him consistently extract maximum performance from McLaren's pacey but challenging MCL39.

"Winning the races is what is exciting at the moment,"

Piastri said ahead of the Miami weekend.

"The championship lead is nice, but I'm much more proud and satisfied of the work and the reasons behind why I'm leading the championship than actually the fact that I am leading."

The path to Miami dominance

In Miami, Piastri qualified fourth behind polesitter Max Verstappen, Norris, and Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli. His race execution proved flawless when opportunities presented themselves.

After Verstappen edged Norris off track at the start, dropping the Briton to sixth, Piastri quickly dispatched Antonelli before hunting down Verstappen.

The Australian patiently stalked the reigning champion before forcing him into a mistake to seize the lead.

Norris eventually recovered to second place but struggled significantly more against Verstappen's defensive tactics.

By the time he cleared the Red Bull, Piastri had built a commanding 10-second advantage that proved unassailable.

Season momentum shift

Earlier in the season, Piastri trailed his teammate in the championship standings. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, where Norris finished second ahead of Piastri's third, the Australian faced a 10-point deficit.

The momentum shifted dramatically in Bahrain. While Norris qualified seventh after a scruffy lap that left him lamenting,

"I feel like I've never driven an F1 car before,"

Piastri converted pole position into victory as Verstappen struggled with car issues.

In Saudi Arabia, Norris again labored in qualifying while Piastri secured another strong result after challenging Verstappen at the start, capitalizing when the Dutchman incurred a penalty for track limits.

Car characteristics key to success

McLaren's MCL39 presents a complex challenge for its drivers.

The car proves difficult to extract maximum performance from during qualifying laps but demonstrates superior race pace, particularly in tire management.

The MCL39 is notably gentler on its tires than rival machinery, especially on the rear axle during extended race stints.

This advantage becomes even more pronounced in hotter conditions, explaining the team's recent surge in warmer races.

Piastri's measured approach to extracting performance seems particularly well-suited to these characteristics, allowing him to maximize opportunities when they present themselves.

"I think those kinds of weekends where you maximise the performance, that is what it is all about,"

Piastri noted earlier in the season, a philosophy that has served him well through this championship campaign.

Despite the narrow 16-point margin between the McLaren drivers, the psychological advantage now clearly rests with Piastri as Formula 1 heads into the European leg of the season.