Oscar Piastri sought the positives from a disappointing United States Grand Prix weekend, despite seeing his championship lead cut to just 14 points and the threat of defending world champion Max Verstappen continuing to grow.
After failing to complete a lap during Saturday’s sprint, which eventually saw him collide with teammate Lando Norris, the McLaren driver could only improve to fifth place on Sunday having started a place lower.
He passed George Russell’s Mercedes on the first lap and rapidly caught Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari on the last, but eventually took just 10 points from the Circuit Of The Americas, while Max Verstappen took 33.
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Speaking to formula1.com post-race, Piastri said: “Today was what it was. I think, with the pace that I had, I did more or less everything. I gained a spot and couldn’t really ask much more with the pace that I had.
“We need to try and understand why the pace was lacking this weekend. With the pace that I had, I tried to execute the race as best as I could, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Pressed on the momentum of the championship battle, the points leader insisted: “My mentality hasn’t changed, and it certainly won’t now. Obviously, Max is closing in and so is Lando, but the gap has not been comfortable at any point this year.
“My mentality hasn’t changed. and it certainly won’t now.”
After the Dutch Grand Prix, which marked his last win, Piastri was over 100 points clear of Max Verstappen and 34 ahead of Norris. However, in the four races since, Verstappen has clawed into that deficit and sits just 40 behind, while Norris has taken 20 points out of his teammate in that same time frame.
Ordered to let teammate Norris past at the Italian Grand Prix and barged by him on the first lap in Singapore, the Australian has offered his rivals some ground after costly crashes in Azerbaijan, which saw him score no points, and then crash again in the US sprint, before being a step behind his rivals for the remainder of the weekend.
If COTA is a bogey track for him though, then so too is Mexico City, where the field will race next weekend. In both years, Piastri finished in P8 there and continuing that form would likely deprive him of a championship lead that he has held since April’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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