Oscar Piastri Confident Despite Verstappen's Charge, Cites Past Title Fight Experience

Oscar Piastri is convinced he has the 'evidence' to withstand Max Verstappen's fierce championship surge, despite a challenging weekend at Austin. While Verstappen maximized his points haul, Piastri remains focused on performance and his past experience in close title battles.

Why it matters:

Piastri's confidence stems from his history of winning tight championships, particularly his 2020 FIA F3 crown against Logan Sargeant. This belief in his ability to perform under pressure is crucial as Verstappen rapidly closes the points gap, transforming the latter part of the season into an unexpected, thrilling championship fight.

The Details:

• Austin Struggles: Piastri had a difficult weekend in Austin, crashing in the Sprint race (for which he took responsibility) and finishing a distant fifth in the Grand Prix, earning only 10 points.
• Verstappen's Dominance: In contrast, Verstappen delivered a flawless performance, winning both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, securing a maximum 33 points. This significantly narrowed Piastri's lead, which had been 63 points before the weekend.
• Championship Standings: Piastri now leads with 346 points, followed by Lando Norris with 332, and Verstappen with 306. There are 141 points still available in the remaining races.
• Recent Trend: Since Monza, Verstappen has slashed 64 points from Piastri's advantage, indicating a strong late-season charge.
• Qualifying Woes: Piastri admitted to media, including RacingNews365, that while race pace has been 'pretty good,' qualifying performance has been 'a little bit tougher' in recent weekends. He noted a particular struggle to 'gel with the car at all' in Austin.
• Past Experience: Piastri highlighted his experience in similarly close championship fights, referencing his final-race victory for the 2020 FIA F3 title.

What's next:

Piastri emphasized that consistent performance, not just points management, is the key to winning the championship. He believes that analyzing and improving the car's setup, especially in qualifying, will be crucial for the remaining races. If he can leverage his past experience and the team can address the car's setup issues, Piastri aims to regain momentum and solidify his championship bid against a relentless Verstappen.