Following the intense conclusion of his 2025 F1 championship campaign at the Abu Dhabi GP, Oscar Piastri of McLaren offered a methodical debrief on the lessons he learned. His analysis was split between the technical improvements required inside the car and the non-obvious demands of dealing with prolonged pressure outside the cockpit.
The dual learning curve: Inside and outside the car
Piastri was asked to summarise the most valuable takeaways from a season marked by extreme highs and strategic setbacks in the F1 Abu Dhabi GP press conference. The Australian driver emphasised that the education was comprehensive, touching every aspect of his professional life.
After leading the championship by 34 points following Zandvoort, his form fell off a cliff for a few rounds. Lando Norris and Max Verstappen both pounced on it. In the end the 24-year-old rediscovered his best form too late. He had to settle for P3 in the Drivers’ Championship.
“Ultimately both, I think. There’ve definitely been lessons directly to do with how I drive the car, how I can be better in different conditions, and just become a better all-round driver. There have also been lessons outside the car — dealing with adversity, dealing with difficult moments. I’ve learned a lot about myself in those kinds of things. So, there have been lessons both in and out of the car that will definitely help me for the future.”
This analysis by Piastri confirms that the plateau in performance observed in the second half of the season was driven by a need to refine his long-run driving capabilities and consistency under diverse conditions.
It was this plateau in performance that contributed to the loss of his immense lead. The technical challenge compounded by the psychological toll of a title fight made it gruelling for Oscar Piastri until the Abu Dhabi GP.
The endurance test of F1
Piastri drew a sharp, analytical contrast between the intense, short-term pressure of junior motorsport and the unique endurance test presented this season.
“I think there are similarities, yes. The emotions you feel are more or less the same. I think what’s different in F1, when I compare it to the junior championships, is the length. The longest junior championship I had was ten rounds. This one has been two and a half times that. The duration you have to live through is much more. My F2 season, for example, was eight rounds. So I think that part is quite different.”
This observation underscores a fundamental logistical challenge for F1 drivers: sustaining peak psychological and physical performance across a 24-race calendar. The test of endurance—the “duration you have to live through”—is unique to the pinnacle of the sport.
He noted that the stakes themselves change at the highest level, transforming the primary driver motivator. In F1, winning is the only metric, whereas junior categories are primarily career showcases.
The Aussie won the F3 and F2 titles in consecutive seasons back in 2020 and 2021.
“I think just the stakes are a little bit different as well. In the junior categories, you obviously want to win the championship, but you’re trying to make your case for why you should be in F1. Whereas when you get to F1, there’s nothing more than becoming champion. So that aspect is a bit different, but, yeah, there are also some similarities.”
Piastri’s F1 Abu Dhabi GP debrief suggests that the key to capitalising on his speed in future title bids will hinge on mastering this endurance test. It will hinge on him transforming the raw speed he displayed into relentless, sustained competitive execution across the entire calendar.
