Martin Brundle: Max Verstappen knows Australian Oscar Piastri is a ‘street-fighter’

F1 expert Martin Brundle says Max Verstappen has an altered game plan for Oscar Piastri compared to fellow McLaren Lando Norris, with the champion knowing that he’s racing a ‘different animal.’

F1 expert Martin Brundle has likened championship leader Oscar Piastri to a “street-fighter” on track, saying Max Verstappen knows he is racing a “different animal” when he is in combat with the Australian compared to his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Dissecting Piastri’s victory in the Miami Grand Prix, Brundle said he was certain Verstappen raced the Melbourne-born star differently than he did Norris.

Piastri emerged on top in a duel with Verstappen again in Miami, executing a brilliant pass on the four-time world champion before pushing on to take his third straight win.

In contrast, Norris came off second-best in an opening lap battle with Verstappen when he lost places trying to overtake the Dutch star.

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oscar Piastri after qualifying in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Assessing Verstappen’s battles with the two McLaren drivers, Brundle said the Red Bull ace “unquestionably” raced Piastri differently than he did Norris.

He said Verstappen realised Piastri was a “different deal” in wheel-to-wheel combat.

“I think he (Verstappen) knows that there is something a bit more street-fighter about Oscar Piastri,” Brundle said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

“He saw it in Jeddah. I think Max knows he has got a different animal when Oscar is in his mirrors, not by much than Lando, just positioning of the car, there is a decisiveness of what he did.

“You can’t criticise Lando’s race craft because the way he passed the Mercedes, and eventually passed Max, was just top draw.

“But I have absolutely no doubt, and just words he says as well, that Max realises Oscar is a different deal in wheel-to-wheel combat.”

Piastri produced a master over take on Verstappen. Picture: Hector Vivas / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

After taking his fourth grand prix win of the year, Piastri has now extended his lead over Norris to 16 points in the championship standings.

Piastri’s stunning start to the year has fuelled hopes of the 24-year-old becoming Australia’s first Formula 1 world champion in 45 years with his speed and racecraft matched by his cool temperament behind the wheel.

Brundle felt Piastri had the edge on Norris with his racecraft – and rarely made mistakes.

“Oscar’s racecraft is good. He’s definitely got the edge over Norris on racecraft,” Brundle said.

“Norris has a fraction of an edge on pace when he hooks it all up. Piastri’s getting the job done, getting the moves made, not making mistakes and getting victories.”

Productive weekend pic.twitter.com/QsGQ3iGKqa

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) May 5, 2025

Piastri said he was quickly learning what he needed to do when racing Verstappen.

“I’m starting to understand what you can and can’t do around Max,” Piastri told Sky Sports F1.

“In Saudi (Arabia) I did what I needed to, to win myself the race.”

Piastri added of his Miami move on Max:

“Even though it took me a fair few laps to get past him (in Miami), that was probably as efficient as I could have overtaken him,” Piastri said.

“I learned through my years of watching Max and racing against him that being on his outside is not a very fun place and I had to try something different.

“It felt like a matter of when, rather than if, but I had to pick my moment wisely.”

Originally published as Martin Brundle: Max Verstappen knows Australian Oscar Piastri is a ‘street-fighter’