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Oscar Piastri thinks his lead in the championship is comfortably big, regardless of Verstappen's recent run. Photo: RacePictures.

Piastri delivers blunt reality check to Verstappen post U.S GP win

15:45, 20 Oct

2 Comments

byNorberto Mujica

Oscar Piastri while acknowledging the recent run Max Verstappen has been on since the summer break, still believes that it's "a lot of points" left for the Dutchman to recover in the title fight.

For Max anyway, he's obviously chasing it [the points gap] down pretty quick, but it's not exactly a small gap with five rounds to go

- Oscar Piastri on Max Verstappen's chances at the title

After crashing out in the Sprint and finishing P5 in the race, the balance following the U.S GP weekend was 23-point drop in his championship lead to Verstappen which now stands at 40. Piastri however, is unfazed by this and claims there's no other position he'd like to be in.

He said after the race in Austin: "Not really. I'd still rather be where I am than the other two. But yeah, obviously this weekend has not been what I wanted or what I expected.

"This weekend has been quite different to the previous couple. Baku was obviously a bit of a disaster for very different reasons and Singapore was what it was. So I think this weekend has been kind of the odd one out compared to others.

"But I think definitely Max and Red Bull have found a lot of pace since the summer break as well. And we saw flashes of it at the start of the year, but it's been consistent since then."

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's race ending contact. Photo: RacePictures.

Regardless of the consistency supporting the reigning F1 champion's run, Piastri thinks the championship is his and McLaren's to lose since the lead he holds over Verstappen is "a lot of points."

"Not necessarily. I mean, you know, he's obviously had a good run in the last few races but ultimately if we can find our way again, and certainly for me, find our pace again, then I don't have any major concerns.

"It's still a long way to go in the championship. It is still, for Max anyway, he's obviously chasing it [the points gap] down pretty quick, but it's not exactly a small gap with five rounds to go, So I think if we can find our pace again, then we can take care of ourselves," Piastri concluded.

Not Verstappen, Norris remains Piastri's biggest threat

After an early run of inconsistent results and accidents, Piastri's teammate and title rival, Lando Norris, managed to turn his season around.

In fact with consistency he's been able to stare down a 50+ points gap to a mere 14 points with 5 Grands Prix left to go on the 2025 calendar.

And judging by the way the championship tide is currently swinging, Norris is quickly positioning himself as the favorite to come away with the 2025 Drivers' crown.

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