Oscar Piastri is having a 2026 Formula 1 season far below the performance he showed last year, and Juan Pablo Montoya believes he has identified a possible reason for the decline. For the former F1 driver, the psychological impact of losing the 2025 championship may be affecting the Australian’s confidence.
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Piastri led last season for more than thirteen rounds and was even considered a favorite for the title, but ended up being surpassed by teammate Lando Norris and by Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. However, in the current season, the Australian has struggled to replicate the pace he showed previously and has only two podiums in the first eleven races.
Montoya assessed that losing a championship that seemed under control can have significant consequences: “Losing the title last year really hurt him mentally. It’s a process to overcome that, understand the situation, and regain focus and energy to get back to doing the job,” the Colombian said to a betting platform.
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The former driver also highlighted the psychological weight of a defeat in these circumstances: “It’s a very big thing in the mind, the psychological part. Losing the championship last year, when everyone said it was his, that it was guaranteed. When you are in a position where you seem unbeatable and lose the championship, it’s a hard pill to swallow,” he added.
Despite his assessment of Piastri’s current moment, Montoya remains confident in the Australian’s ability to bounce back: “It will take some time to get back to where he needs to be. He has the potential to do amazing things, I really believe that. I think Oscar is a very good driver, he’s very fast,” he concluded.
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