Oscar Piastri endured a devastating blow at the Mexico Grand Prix as his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, delivered a masterclass that left the Australian completely outpaced and bewildered. The qualifying session turned into a nightmare for Piastri, who was left searching for answers after finishing more than six-tenths behind Norris — a margin that may well shift the momentum of the championship battle. Despite flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, Piastri found himself struggling against a teammate who seemed to be operating on another level entirely.
From the opening laps of practice, the balance of power within McLaren was clear. Norris dominated every session, extracting precision and pace from the MCL39 that Piastri simply couldn’t replicate. While the young Australian cited power unit issues, they did little to disguise the growing performance gap. Norris went on to claim a sensational pole position — McLaren’s first in Mexico since 1990 — clocking a time more than a quarter of a second clear of the rest of the field. It was a statement of intent from the Briton, who entered the weekend 14 points adrift of his teammate in the standings.
For Piastri, the silence said it all. When his engineer confirmed a P8 finish, later upgraded to P7 due to Carlos Sainz’s penalty, the Australian offered no reply — a stark, uncomfortable moment that underscored his frustration. After climbing out of the car without a word, Piastri admitted that he and the team would have to “do some digging” to understand the pace deficit. His comments revealed a deeper concern — that recent circuits exposing tyre-sliding weaknesses in his driving style have allowed Norris to gain time through every corner.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed as much, noting that Piastri’s struggles stemmed from difficulties managing grip and consistency through the technical sections. Meanwhile, Sky Sports analysts described Norris’s performance as one of his most dominant displays yet — a sharp contrast to Piastri’s confusion and cautious approach. Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve was particularly critical, suggesting that the Australian’s failure to push harder, even at the risk of mistakes, reflected a lack of aggression at a time when the title fight demands it.
As the dust settled over Mexico City, the narrative was clear: Norris is in unstoppable form, while Piastri is searching for stability in a car that suddenly feels foreign. With just a handful of races remaining, the Australian faces a daunting task — recalibrating his confidence, closing the gap to his teammate, and salvaging his championship hopes before Norris turns McLaren’s internal rivalry into a coronation. The silence over team radio may have been brief, but its echo could define the remainder of Piastri’s season.
