Photo: Race Pictures

F1 title battle reaches climax and Piastri is ready to deliver

16:09, 29 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Oscar Piastri highlights the importance of a support structure as the pressure in the battle for the Drivers' Championship ramps up, but knows it's ultimately all down to him and how he copes with it on track.

It is ultimately down to how I manage it, how I drive, and how I cope with things which are going to be coming.

- Oscar Piastri

The Australian driver is currently edging closer to his first F1 title. However, his lead has been cut short by both of his title rivals, McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull Racing's defending champion Max Verstappen to 44 and 69 points respectively.

The advantage Piastri has, though, is his past experiences in championship fights in F2 and F3, for instance, which he believes have prepared him for the home stretch of the F1 2025 season.

"The intensity will kind of naturally increase as we get closer to the end of the year, and I'm ready for that," Piastri said.

Oscar Piastri crashed during Baku qualifying and will start P9 in the race. Photo: RacePictures.

"I've been in this position before in other championships, and that kind of feeling and that countdown to the end of the year are the same.

Despite acknowledging himself as the sole responsible for his success, or otherwise, Piastri doesn't disregard the impact a solid support structure can have on his results when the pressure for the coveted prize rises.

"So I am ready for that, and I can lean on Mark [Webber], but it is ultimately down to how I manage it, how I drive, and how I cope with things which are going to be coming.

Photo: Race Pictures

"But having an important team around you and a good group of people around you is very important to be able to lean on, and Mark is certainly one of those people, and I'm excited to see how it goes."

Piastri the prey in Norris' and Verstappen's targets

Following his P3 in Italy and his DNF in Azerbaijan Piastri's gap in the Drivers' Standings have been cut down to 44 points by McLaren teammate Lando Norris and to 69 points by Max Verstappen.

As the F1 circus now heads to the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the 18th round in the championship, the Singapore Grand Prix, with the title still very much up for grabs, the eyes of the paddock are fixed on whether or not Red Bull Racing and Verstappen can secure a good result here and thus confirm - or debunk - the Dutchman's revival in the title fight.

GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.