Formula 1 all saying the same thing about Oscar Piastri after Miami race

There are two words Formula 1 commentators are obsessed with after the Miami Grand Prix with Oscar Piastri getting tongues wagging.

There are two words swirling around the Formula 1 world after Oscar Piastri proved his championship credentials with victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Monday morning.

The Australian’s “race craft” has becoming one of the biggest talking points on the F1 grid after he cruised to his fourth victory of the season on the Florida street circuit.

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His McLaren teammate Lando Norris is on the wrong side of the debate with some leading F1 commentators raising serious questions about the British racer — despite an impressive drive to finish on the second step of the podium.

Norris was the red-hot favourite to win the driver’s championship this year after his victory at the Australian Grand Prix — but the power balance within the McLaren garage is tilting towards Piastri.

According to former world champions Jenson Button and Damon Hill, it is Piastri’s “race craft” that gives the Melburnian an edge as the two McLaren drivers go head-to-head for the championship this year.

The 24-year-old is the first McLaren driver to win three consecutive races since Mika Hakkinen in 1998.

He is also the first Australian to win three consecutive Formula 1 races since Alan Jones in 1981.

Piastri now leads the championship with 131 points — ahead of Norris (115) and reigning champ Max Verstappen.

The Red Bull driver had to settle for fourth in Miami with Mercedes’ George Russell finishing P3.

Verstappen still played a pivotal part in deciding the outcome of the race after he fought both McLarens at different points.

Oscar Piastri hit the Griddy in front of the McLaren team.

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrates. Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP.

It is Piastri’s ability to get past the reigning world champ cleanly on Lap 14 that has got the F1 world talking.

Piastri took the lead after Verstappen locked up at Turn 1 and missed the apex completely.

Norris’ battle with Verstappen was very different.

Norris was forced wide by Verstappen at Turn 2 on the opening lap in a major gut-punch that saw him drop down to P6.

Norris went on to have two battles with Verstappen in the middle laps of the race.

It took Norris an age before he was finally able to get by Verstappen — but he immediately gave the position back, having exceeded track limits as he made his move.

By the time he got past Verstappen a second time, the result of the race was over.

Piastri’s lead was out beyond ten seconds and he never looked troubled despite Norris pulling within three seconds in the final few laps.

It’s these critical moments that have made Piastri’s craft such a big talking point.

The Sky Sports F1 commentary team was particularly obsessed with the term.

F1 guru Martin Brundle said after the race Piastri has a mental advantage over his teammate.

“His race craft is good as well, isn’t it,” Brundle said on Sky Sports.

“He’s definitely got the edge over Norris when it comes to race craft. Norris seems to have a fraction of an edge over pace, but... Piastri is getting the job done.

“He’s getting moves done. He’s not making mistakes. And he’s getting victories.”

Former world champ Button said on Sky Sports: “It was an amazing job by Oscar this weekend. As soon as he gets in the lead he is formidable. He just controls the race. It’s really extraordinary to watch.”

He went on to say: “It’s the race pace that is just out of this world now with him. He’s improved so much over the last year. He gets into the lead and he’s so good at controlling races.”

Sky Sport presenter Simon Lazenby said: “It is the general consensus the race craft of Oscar Piastri is elevated from Lando”.

Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson also pointed it out after reviewing footage of the different moves Piastri and Norris put on Verstappen.

“Some people may see that - rightly so – as better race craft than Lando perhaps in this situation,” Davidson said.

“I saw Oscar tentative in the beginning He was looking around sizing Max up. He was definitely tentative. Wary. Definitely wary of racing him.

“And that’s how I see Lando racing him as well, but maybe slightly more so because he’s had more knocks in the past and doesn’t trust his friend and rival.”

He went on to say: “I do feel like Oscar has got a little bit more sense of maybe what Max might do”.

Button described Norris’ issue as “scar tissue” from his previous battles with the four-time champ.

Questions about Verstappen clearly irked Norris after the race.

He was more than a little snarky when speaking with Sky Sport.

Race winner Oscar Piastri. Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images.

“Oscar got past him (Verstappen). I got past him. We both got past him, but you have to be in the perfect place,” he said.

“In the end he just let me go. He didn’t even put up a fight in the end. It just depends how much he wants to fight you. It’s Max. He’s doing a good job. He can do whatever he wants.”

When asked if he really felt that way about Verstappen, Norris replied: “No I’m just saying it for the interview.”

Piastri was grinning from ear to ear after the race — and he had good reason to do so.

Piastri gave a rare display of showing-off after the win when he performed a cheeky “griddy” dance in front of his team in parc ferme.

The sight of the mild-mannered Melburnian executing the flashy viral ditty was too much for some fans to handle. Some versions of the clip have been viewed more than 100,000 times on X.

Piastri had been taught how to perform the trending shimmy by none other than NFL star Justin Jefferson.

The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver was the first player in the NFL to perform the Fortnite-inspired celebration.

McLaren is leaving Miami having pulled off 1-2 finishes in the Grand Prix and in Sunday’s sprint race — something no team had previously achieved.

The day was much uglier for fellow Aussie Jack Doohan, whose race was over before he exited the first turn after making contact with Kiwi Liam Lawson.

Originally published as Formula 1 all saying the same thing about Oscar Piastri after Miami race