Piastri's Title Hopes Dim After Disappointing Las Vegas GP
Oscar Piastri expressed a 'bleak' assessment of his F1 title prospects after a challenging Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he finished fourth but was later disqualified alongside teammate Lando Norris due to excessive plank wear. This setback, part of a six-race period of poor form, leaves him 24 points behind Norris with two races to go, shifting his focus to securing strong results to close out the season.
Oscar Piastri's championship aspirations took another hit at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where a series of unfortunate events, culminating in a post-race disqualification, left him with a 'bleak' outlook on his title chances. This marks a continuation of a challenging six-race period for the Australian McLaren driver.
Why it matters:
Piastri's struggle for consistent results comes at a critical juncture in the season, as the championship battle intensifies. His recent performances and the gap to his teammate Lando Norris highlight the demanding nature of Formula 1 and the fine margins that separate contenders from the rest. The outcome of the remaining races will be crucial for his standing in the Driver's Championship and for McLaren's overall constructors' points.
The details:
- Initial Race Result: Piastri initially finished fourth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with teammate Lando Norris on the podium.
- Double Disqualification: Both McLaren drivers, Piastri and Norris, were later disqualified due to excessive plank wear found during post-race technical inspections, negating their efforts.
- Championship Standings: Following the disqualification, Piastri now trails Norris by 24 points with only two race weekends left. Max Verstappen has also drawn level on points with Piastri.
- Piastri's Assessment: When asked about his title chances, Piastri stated, "it is what it is," and indicated his focus is now on securing "good results on the board" to finish the year.
- Race Incidents: Piastri's race started with a lap one incident where Liam Lawson made contact, deemed a racing incident by stewards. He also noted contact between Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll, expressing that he felt like "one of the only people that actually braked to make the corner and got barged out of the way."
- Race Pace: Despite the challenges, Piastri acknowledged "good moments of pace" in clean air but struggled when not in clear track, citing difficulties behind Kimi Antonelli.
What's next:
With just two Grand Prix weekends remaining and one Sprint race, Piastri faces an uphill battle to improve his standing. His immediate goal will be to reverse his recent form and secure strong results in the upcoming races. The focus will be on maximizing points for McLaren and ending the season on a positive note, regardless of the championship outcome. The performance in the final races will be key for momentum heading into the next season.