The “angry side” of Formula 1 superstar Oscar Piastri was on display in Silverstone last Sunday, and it could well spark “fireworks” in the coming weeks between him and teammate Lando Norris as their world title race heats up.
After leading the marquee British race, the 24-year-old Australian incurred a 10-second penalty for slowing his car excessively in the lead behind the safety car on Lap 22, ultimately costing him his sixth Grand Prix of the 2025 season and handing McLaren teammate Lando Norris his first-ever victory in his home race.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Writing for Sky Sports, Brundle revealed he believes this is the first time Piastri has shown a “cheeky” side of his personality, after hesitantly requesting to swap places with Norris after his penalty — fully believing he had been wronged with the time penalty handed down.
“It seems the Drivers’ Championship showdown will indeed be between Piastri and Norris, and we can expect some fireworks there,” Brundle said.
“That’s the first time we’ve seen the angry side of the calm silent Aussie assassin. Oscar’s radio call for the places to be swapped if the team thought he’d received an unfair penalty was more than cheeky, though.”
Norris’ victory at his home Grand Prix narrows Piastri’s lead in the Driver’s Standings to just eight points, with the McLaren duo far and away in front of third-placed Max Verstappen.
With the Constructor’s Championship all but sewn up, all eyes are now on the pair who are both vying for their first-ever individual championship. Subsequently, it’s no surprise Sunday’s mishap was made even more sour for Piastri given his number one competitor for the title won.
READ MORE
TALKING POINTS: Piastri argument that doesn’t stack up as penalty explained; disaster behind title shift
‘BANNED FOR THE YEAR’: Piastri vents frustration at costly British GP penalty
“Apparently you can’t brake behind the safety car anymore,” a frustrated Piastri said post-race.
“I did it for five laps before that … I’m not going to say too much because I’ll get myself in trouble, but thanks to the crowd for a great event.
“I still like Silverstone, even if I don’t like it today.”
Piastri then later added: “I thought the penalty was pretty bad but, anyway, I’m glad we had a quick car today, showed what I needed to prove, and it’s just disappointing when what you deserve gets taken from you, but that’s how it goes.”
Piastri cops 10s penalty for extreme act | 01:02
Similarly to Brundle’s assessment, F1 analyst and journalist Peter Windsor agreed that Piastri’s team order request was something he hadn’t seen before from the Melburnian.
“Oscar got on the radio and quite surprisingly and I think quite intelligently said that whole thing with the safety car was ridiculous, we should be basically appealing that, we should reverse positions now on that basis and then race to the finish,” Windsor said on YouTube.
“I can’t remember any driver ever saying that, and you’ve got to give him full marks for thinking laterally there … he was the quicker driver over the weekend for McLaren, and there he is being super aggressive on the radio about something like that.”
Piastri was quizzed on his request to his McLaren team on swapping places with Norris after finishing second, and transparently admitted he never really expected action to be taken.
Hulkenberg finally ends record drought | 01:45
“I thought I would ask the question,” Piastri said.
“I knew what the answer was going to be before I asked, but I just wanted a small glimmer of hope that maybe I could get it back … (but) I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
“Lando didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t think it would have been particularly fair to have swapped, but I thought I would at least ask … I will use the frustration to make sure I win some more races later.”
The F1 circuit is now amid a three-week break, next racing in the region of Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium on July 27 at 11pm AEST. Last year, Piastri finished just +0.647 seconds behind winner Lewis Hamilton at the venue.