Oscar Piastri went with the gamble on strategy in F1 Abu Dhabi GP, but it didn’t work out as he ended up third eventually in the drivers’ standings.
It was a surprise call from McLaren and Piastri to use the hard tyre as his strategy to start the F1 Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina circuit. He had to try something else against Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, who were guaranteed to start on the medium compound.
Piastri wanted to give himself an outside chance by going as long in case of a safety car situation. That strategy difference allowed McLaren to thwart any of Verstappen’s plans as well, considering that he had to fend off not just Norris but also the Australian.
For Piastri, winning the F1 race was his end goal. Interestingly, he was able to pass Norris on Lap 1, but it was pre-meditated as noted by team boss Andrea Stella. They held a discussion to make it easier for the Australian to pass the Brit if there is a chance and go on an attack on Verstappen.
It was the best chance for Piastri to secure a race win and secure second in the standings if not the world championship. But it wasn’t to be as Verstappen had supreme pace all-round. “I think, honestly, pretty good,” he said to media. “There wasn’t anything left out there. Obviously, we tried a bit of a gamble on the strategy to give ourselves some different options and hope that the stars aligned to give ourselves the best chance.
“But ultimately, in the end, that didn’t happen. So, yeah, I think given as well I missed a practice session, it took a little bit to find my feet. I think that was the maximum we could have achieved today. We didn’t have an answer for Max’s pace. So pretty happy with the weekend. Not much more we could have done,” summed up Piastri.
The Australian sure wanted a different ending to the F1 season than what he did after leading the championship at one points at a stretch, but the learning he had in only his third full season is the biggest takeaway for him in the time to come.
He sees himself as a stronger driver, especially after the season highlighted some of his weaknesses that he has to balance in order to be a complete driver. “I mean, I think, obviously, I would have wished for a slightly different ending, but I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a race car driver, myself as a person,” continued Piastri.
“I think if you had presented this season at the start of the year with the pole positions and the wins and the podiums, I definitely would have been pretty happy with that. And I think even in the tough moments, I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I can be stronger in the future. So, I think, ultimately, there’s a little bit of disappointment, obviously, but I think I can be very proud of the season I’ve had and plenty of lessons to take to the future,” summed up Piastri.
Here’s race start: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2025-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-polesitter-verstappen-leads-away-from-norris-on-the-race-start.1850855393780646885
Here’s Lap 1 move: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2025-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-piastri-roars-around-norris-on-lap-1-to-grab-p2.1850855342932859976
Here’s how F1 Abu Dhabi GP panned out
Here’s Andrea Stella on Lap 1 move
Here’s Max Verstappen on Oscar Piastri threat
