1997 Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve blasted Oscar Piastri’s double lock‑up at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a rookie mistake.
Villeneuve’s Sharp Assessment
The 1997 champion’s words were recorded during Sky Sports’ live commentary, where he noted Piastri was “looking in his mirrors and just completely missed.” Villeneuve explained that while trying to deflect Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar on the main straight, the Australian’s brakes seized and sent the car wide into the run‑off, banishing him from a podium finish. The skid cut the driver’s race to a bottom‑line 14th place, while McLaren teammate Lando Norris fell out after contact with the Alpine trio of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly.
Piastri’s Own Reflection
In the post‑race interview, Piastri admitted the double lock‑up took him by surprise, describing it as a “super‑late” and “super‑hard” brake that immediately seized both fronts. He said he would review the moment carefully, noting it “seemed odd to me” and recognizing it ended a strong first half of the event. The Australian maintained that the incident was a single mistake, not a sign of deeper skill issues.
McLaren’s Race‑Day Scrutiny
Three‑time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, co‑present on the broadcast, echoed the criticism, sharing that “there was a lot of complaining generally from both McLaren drivers about struggling to get the best out of their car.” She added that Lando receives constant coaching on the scope for improvement. Chadwick observed that it is rare to see a double lock‑up from a driver of Piastri’s class, concluding the mishap underlines the need for persistent focus in the drivers’ gloves.
"