Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle is certain: Oscar Piastri will come back in 2025 to take revenge after his dip in form. The Australian led the drivers’ championship for large stretches last season, only for that brief slump after the Italian GP to interrupt his run. According to Brundle, Piastri has learned enough to hit back a year later: ‘Some of his wins were that dominant, too.’
Oscar Piastri arrived at the Abu Dhabi GP, the final race of the intense 2025 season, just thirteen World Championship points short of being in contention for the title. Team-mate Lando Norris, who after the Mexico GP had seized the championship lead from the Australian, claimed his first world title, finishing with only a two-point margin to second-placed Max Verstappen. Piastri went through a small dip in form after the Italian GP, which ultimately cost him the championship.
Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle thinks the Australian will come back much stronger this season. “I honestly think he’s coming back with a sense of vengeance,” the Brit told Sky F1. “Last year was for him partly painful, partly brilliant. He has learned a lot. I think it’s generally known that on low-grip circuits he doesn’t get the best out of the car and the tyres, so he knows he has to fix that. But some of his wins were so dominant, so impressive. He will take a lot from that. We’ve been watching him. He’s an incredibly smart young man and he’s clearly competitive, and a hard worker. I think he’ll return having made a big step forward.”
‘Looking forward to 2026’
Piastri himself has also said he learned from his first title fight in 2025. “I feel that last year (in 2025, ed.) I really proved to myself what I’m capable of,” the McLaren driver said. “There are certainly still things I need to improve and work on, but I feel I really took a big step forward. I can carry those lessons into whatever regulations we get, so I’m looking forward to it.”
