'It's just mind-blowing' - Max Verstappen receives staggering praise after Oscar Piastri mistake

Former Alpine F1 executive director Marcin Budkowski described Max Verstappen's opening corner overtake on Oscar Piastri as "mind-blowing". 

Appearing on the latest episode of the RacingNews365 podcast, Budkowski analysed Verstappen's move for the race lead on Piastri in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. 

Despite a poor launch off the line from second, the Red Bull driver swept around the outside of the championship leader, before cruising to a comfortable Imola victory. 

It was a moment of magic by the four-time world champion; however, Budkowski believes Piastri was busy focusing on George Russell behind.

"Going back to that overtake from Max, if you look at the helicopter camera, the aerial pictures, it looks like a Formula 1 car driving around a Formula 2 car. Incredible," Budkowski said on the latest episode of the RacingNews365 Podcast.

"The amount of speed Max carries through that corner compared to Oscar, it's just mind-blowing. And it just shows the confidence with which Max goes into that corner, and the contrast with the carefulness and probably over-carefulness that Oscar deploys there. 

"I think, just looking at it, and I haven't spoken to Oscar or anyone after it, but it looks like Oscar was more concerned about Russell on his inside than Max on the outside. 

"And it's logical, because Russell got a really good start, and the culmination of him trying to cover more, because when you look at it, he said he could have moved two metres to the right and he would have been fine, and Max would have had no room to do that. 

"But I think he was more concerned about Russell, and a little bit over-careful and the [result] of that was he was passed."

Stella defends Piastri

Piastri was frustrated with himself after the grand prix and quickly identified to the media that he braked too early, allowing Verstappen to sweep around the outside. 

However, as pointed out by Budkowski, it appeared that Piastri was focused on Russell directly being rather than Verstappen. 

He spoke to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella after the race, although did not completely agree with the Italian's verdict on Piastri's first corner driving.

Budkowski continued: "I interviewed him [Stella] after the race and he said, 'Oh, you know, it's Imola. If you over-defend here, you can easily end up in the gravel.' 

"And I felt, fair enough, but there was a big margin between over-defending and what Oscar did which I think was [too much]. But anyway, even then, we forget sometimes the young drivers, it's a lot of pressure, little things to take into account. 

"I think it's a good lesson, and Oscar is a clever guy, he will take that home and become a better driver because of it."

The full podcast with Marcin Budkowski can be found on YouTube and all of your favourite podcast players!