Jenson Button has noticed a worrying change in Oscar Piastri’s mentality as he chases first F1 title

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Oscar Piastri needs to stabilise his Formula 1 title bid at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. A dismal weekend in Baku has left Jenson Button concerned.

Piastri was on the third-longest scoring streak in F1 history – 42 races between Las Vegas 2023 and Italy 2025. But that run came to a dramatic end in Azerbaijan as he crashed out of both qualifying and the race.

Ralf Schumacher says Piastri looked ‘desperate’ to make up ground, having started ninth. The Australian jumped the start beforehand, incurring an ultimately meaningless five-second penalty.

With teammate Lando Norris unable to truly capitalise in seventh, Piastri’s lead remains 25 points with seven races to go. But Max Verstappen’s second straight victory, which leaves him 69 back, has raised some fear at McLaren that they aren’t guaranteed to win the drivers’ title.

Jenson Button says the F1 title fight is taking its ‘toll’ on Oscar Piastri

Speaking live on Sky Sports before FP1 at the Singapore GP, Button suggested that the McLaren drivers had squandered the car’s potential in Azerbaijan. He feels their poor performances exaggerated the weaknesses of the MCL39.

For Button, the prospect of a first title is ‘starting to take its toll’ on both drivers. Unlike the McLaren duo, serial winner Verstappen is able to ‘have fun’ on track.

The pressure is particularly acute for Piastri. It would be truly heartbreaking if he let slip the 34-point lead he had after winning the Dutch GP.

“When you look back at Baku, the McLarens were still quick,” he said. “It’s just, the two drivers fighting for a world championship, I think it’s starting to take its toll.

• READ MORE: ‘Everyone’ in F1 was comparing Oscar Piastri to one world champion before Azerbaijan Grand Prix howler

“It does. It’s mentally so difficult when you fight for a world championship, and then you’ve got Max, who’s won four, just going out there having fun.

“It really shows the difference of having the confidence in yourself, not thinking about what’s going on around, and just getting the job done.”

Button’s colleague Martin Brundle then added: “That’s the key thing, isn’t it? Max has been there before in a championship fight. Oscar and Lando haven’t.”

Red Bull’s Singapore Grand Prix upgrade turns up the heat on Oscar Piastri

One observer said Piastri was ‘carrying himself’ differently in Baku before his crashes. He’s been praised all season for his resistance to pressure, and the upcoming races will confirm whether or not round 17 was a mere blip.

Red Bull continue to bring upgrades to their car (the latest a new front wing at Marina Bay), which could put Verstappen in a position to capitalise if either McLaren driver makes more errors. It’s difficult to envisage a turnaround on car performance alone.

Juan Pablo Montoya expected Piastri to falter in the final phase of the season. He says the third-year driver has now ‘lost his temper’.

It remains to be seen whether he’s more cautious in his approach in Singapore, which, like Baku, is one of the most unforgiving circuits on the calendar.