Perched on a plastic chair trackside, Oscar Piastri watched the Azerbaijan Grand Prix unfold on a phone.
The Formula 1 standings leader became a spectator after colliding with the barrier about a minute into the race. What he saw was still encouraging for his title chances.
Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris missed a chance to capitalize on Piastri’s misfortune for the second day running as he finished seventh, the same place he’d started.
For all the speed the McLaren MCL39 has shown this season, Norris argued that Azerbaijan proves it’s not as easy to drive as it may seem.
“It can be unbelievably fast at times,” Norris told broadcaster Sky Sports. “It can still bite you if you put one step wrong. That’s what we’re trying to work on. It’s difficult to improve. It can bite, and it