Montoya: “Piastri’s Baku Errors Show He’s Feeling the Heat in F1 Title Fight”

Oscar Piastri’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance was “terrible,” according to former McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who fears the Australian is beginning to crack under championship pressure.

The McLaren star, who leads teammate Lando Norris by 25 points in the Drivers’ Championship, endured a nightmare weekend in Baku. He crashed out of qualifying, jumped the start from ninth on the grid, and later hit the barriers at Turn 6, three uncharacteristic mistakes in the space of two laps of racing.

While Norris could only manage sixth place, Piastri’s errors marked his first major wobble of the 2025 season. Montoya believes the mistakes are a sign of rising tension.

“Piastri lost his temper,” Montoya said. “I’ve been telling you, ‘Wait and see,’ and it was noticeable. For a while, when he was under direct pressure from Lando regarding the points, he was still performing well. But in Baku, the race was terrible.”

Montoya suggested the Australian misjudged his rivals in the opening laps. “Apart from jumping the start, the start itself was terrible. Then he thought he would pass people quickly. He calculated his braking based on those around him, but they braked late, so he braked later—and bang. Welcome to a street circuit.”

A Shift in Mentality?

Montoya has long compared Piastri to Kimi Räikkönen, famed as “The Iceman” for his composure under pressure. But he now senses a change in the 23-year-old’s mindset.

In August, Montoya warned that Piastri was getting “heated,” especially after McLaren’s controversial team orders at Monza. He argued that the weight of a potential maiden title, something that may not come again soon, was beginning to take its toll.

Singapore Looms Large

Montoya believes the timing of Piastri’s slump is especially dangerous, with the Singapore Grand Prix next on the calendar. Marina Bay is one of the toughest circuits in Formula 1 and a track where Norris has historically excelled.

Last year, Norris beat Piastri in all four competitive sessions in Singapore, finishing over 40 seconds clear in the race and four-tenths quicker in qualifying.

“The mental problem for me is more complicated now, because you’re going to another street circuit, which is 100% a Lando track,” Montoya explained. “You’re not in a position to attack Lando, because if you make another mistake, you’re going to create a world of unnecessary headaches.”

Montoya urged Piastri to play the long game rather than risk his championship lead. “If you beat Lando, great. But if you crash again and Lando wins, the points swing can be very large.

“He has a big advantage, but as we’ve seen, that can change in a week. What he has to do is finish second or third, avoid mistakes, and create stability. Because another crash at this moment…”

With seven races remaining, the title fight remains firmly in Piastri’s hands, but Montoya’s warning is clear: composure, not raw speed, may decide the 2025 crown.

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