Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson believes rival 'goaded' Oscar Piastri into first-lap crash

Former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson believes Oscar Piastri's lap-one crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was caused by him following Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg, who also braked late into turn five.

According to Davidson, Piastri misjudged the gap between himself and Hulkenberg, causing him to brake too late and ultimately hit the wall.

He adds that if Hulkenberg had braked earlier, it would have caused Piastri to do the same, though the 2014 World Endurance Champion admits he is "giving him excuses".

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It was a weekend to forget for Piastri in Baku.

After a crash during a marathon qualifying session left him starting from ninth, things only got worse during the marquee event.

First, the normally cool-headed Aussie stalled on the grid, dropping to last, before his race ended a few turns later when he locked up and crashed at turn five.

In his analysis of the incident on Sky Sports F1's broadcast, Davidson noted that Piastri's performance was uncharacteristically poor.

"I can't remember the last time that Oscar Piastri made so many mistakes during the course of a weekend, but like [McLaren team principal Andrea] Stella was saying, hopefully it's all accumulated in this one weekend," he said.

Piastri jumped the start and stopped before the anti-stall system caused him to fall to the back of the pack by the opening corner.

"The car jumps violently, trying to get [the clutch] back in as you are not holding the proper revs anymore. And that's why he ends up losing so many positions," Davidson said.

The Melburnian was also handed a five-second penalty for the jump start. However, the penalty will not carry over to the next race in Singapore despite not having been served.

Finding himself on the back foot, Piastri quickly recovered and began making progress through the field.

"It didn't put him off initially; he was quick to start making positions again," Davidson said.

"He took it easy through turn two on these cold tyres at the start of the race. He was up to speed by the time we got to turn three, and getting past [Alex] Albon in the Williams straight away into that corner.

"Then he's on the attack with [Pierre] Gasly as well, picks off another position there.

"Round the outside of turn four he goes, you've got the Haas there of [Esteban] Ocon and he slots in behind him."

However, Davidson suspects the championship leader may have come undone when he was influenced by Hulkenberg as they entered turn five, with Piastri braking at the wrong point, and ultimately coming unstuck.

"This is where it all goes wrong in turn five," he said.

"What I believe happens here is that he's got Hulkenberg in front of him, trying to make a move around the outside of one of the Haas drivers.

"I think it goads Piastri into thinking, 'That's where I can brake' ... but Hulkenberg runs wide himself, very wide actually.

"To give Oscar some credit here and some let-off, I think he's just following in [the path of] another driver that is also going quite deep.

"You judge the gap between yourself and the other car, and I think that's what's caught him out here and why he's ultimately ended up in the barriers.

"I think if the car in front of him, Hulkenberg, had been a bit easier on the brakes, naturally, it would have made Oscar brake a bit earlier as well.

"But I'm giving him excuses."

With the crash, Piastri's streak of 44 straight race finishes — and 34 consecutive races in the points — came to an end. It was also his first retirement since the 2023 United States Grand Prix.

Davidson conceded that a driver at Piastri's level of competition should not be making such mistakes.

"The calibre that he is as a driver, leading the world championship, as difficult as this is, you shouldn't really be expecting mistakes like that when you are at his level," he said.

"So, a really disappointing weekend."

Despite his retirement, Piastri continues to lead the drivers' championship and is on course for his first world title with a 25-point advantage over his McLaren teammate and title rival, Lando Norris.