Martin Brundle frustrated by what he’s seen from ‘disappointing’ top-six F1 driver in recent races

Max Verstappen sealed the Formula 1 drivers’ world championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last weekend, but the constructors’ title is still up for grabs. While Ferrari were disappointed with their weekend, they gained ground on McLaren.

Mercedes were the surprise pacesetters in Vegas, thriving in the unusually cold temperatures. The top four pecking order was effectively flipped on its head, with leaders McLaren slowest.

George Russell won the race from teammate Lewis Hamilton, who charged through the pack after two qualifying errors left him 10th on the grid. Carlos Sainz was third ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, netting 27 points for Ferrari.

The consensus coming into the weekend was that the Scuderia were favourites, so they will see this as perhaps a missed opportunity. There was a furious outburst from Leclerc over the radio at the end of the race – he felt Sainz had ignored team orders – but Ferrari have still closed the gap on McLaren to 22 points.

There are two races to go, and this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix includes a Sprint. That means there are an additional 15 points on offer, making McLaren’s lead even more vulnerable.

Lando Norris was sixth, with Oscar Piastri seventh as they struggled to adjust to the unique conditions. It was one of their poorest weekends of the season.

Martin Brundle wants more from Oscar Piastri after poor Las Vegas Grand Prix

Writing in his post-race column for Sky Sports F1, pundit Martin Brundle rued another ‘disappointing’ race for Piastri at the Las Vegas GP. The Australian had to serve a five-second penalty at his first pit stop after inching beyond his permitted grid slot.

While Brundle felt that the penalty was a little harsh, he believes Piastri needs to improve. McLaren are coming under growing pressure as they eye their first constructors’ crown since the end of the 20th century.

While Piastri deserved to win the Sprint race in Brazil – he led from pole until McLaren imposed team orders – he struggled in the wet conditions and was classified eighth after a 10-second penalty for hitting Liam Lawson. That matched his result in Mexico a week earlier.

Piastri has scored 31 points at the last four races, two of which have been Sprint weekends, having amassed 70 in the four beforehand. Still, McLaren’s expected improvement in Qatar should yield a stronger showing.

Brundle wrote: “Oscar Piastri had another disappointing race of late after what looked like a marginal call for being out front of his starting grid box and receiving a five-second penalty.

“His seventh place means that Ferrari are now only 24 points behind McLaren in the team championship with two races and a Sprint to go. McLaren expect to be stronger next time out on the Qatar layout and they’ll need to be.”

Oscar Piastri’s ‘smile’ at the Las Vegas GP didn’t last long

Speaking before the race in Vegas, Piastri admitted he was in a ‘painful’ spell. It’s arguably the first sustained run of underwhelming performances from the Australian all year.

Piastri wants to compete for the title in 2025, when McLaren will perhaps be favourites. To do that, he certainly needs to improve in qualifying, where he currently trails Norris 19-3.

But he shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that he’s had an excellent season. He bagged his first career win in Hungary and followed that up with an even better victory in Azerbaijan.

In the USA, Mexico and Brazil tripleheader, Norris received preferential treatment, only to fall short in the drivers’ standings. Piastri ‘smiled’ after changes to the papaya rules to restore parity, but unfortunately he remained behind his teammate.