Max Verstappen's change in approach to Oscar Piastri spotted - 'Max knows'
Max Verstappen is down in third place in the Formula 1 drivers' championship behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with Australian star Piastri leading the way
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris to win last year's title, but this time around it's Norris' team-mate Oscar Piastri making the early running in the drivers' championship. However, former F1 star Martin Brundle believes Verstappen has taken a different approach in his dealings with the McLaren pair.
Norris won the first grand prix of the season in Australia, with Verstappen claiming his first victory of the season in Japan. Piastri has won the other four, though, and holds a 16-point lead over closest challenger Norris following his win in Miami.
Verstappen is a further 16 behind, and Brundle has commented on how he believes the Dutch driver has treated Piastri. "100 per cent. Unquestionably," Brundle told Sky Sports when asked if he felt Verstappen races differently against the two McLarens.
"'He knows that there's something a bit more street fighter about Oscar Piastri. He saw it in Jeddah [where Verstappen started on pole but finished second behind the Australian].
"Max knows he got a different animal than Lando when Oscar is in his mirrors - not by much. Just positioning the car, there's a decisiveness about what he did.'
Brundle's comments come after former F1 world champion Alan Jones fired a warning to Verstappen. "He sees a gap and goes for it, and Oscar is not going to be put off by that," the 1980 champ said.
"There's a lot of other drivers he'll bluff and hold them to ransom a bit, but I believe Oscar has got the mental strength not to put up with that crap. He'll just take it for what is and give it back to him."
Back in April, after that Saudi Grand Prix, Verstappen opened up on what has impressed him about Piastri. "Last year was his second year, now he's in his third year and he's very solid," the champ said.
"He's very calm in his approach, and I like that. It shows on-track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes - and that's what you need when you want to fight for a championship."
Verstappen lost ground on his rivals in Miami after receiving a 10-second penalty to finish out of the points in the Sprint race. He recovered to claim pole for the grand prix proper, but was unable to keep the two McLarens at bay and eventually finished fourth behind Piastri, Norris and Mercedes driver George Russell.
Next up is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which will take place in Imola on May 18. Verstappen won the race last year, with Norris second and Piastri coming home fourth behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
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