Piastri Admits Struggle After Disappointing US Grand Prix
Summary
Oscar Piastri has admitted he's struggling to find solutions after a disappointing US Grand Prix, where he only scored 10 points. Following a Sprint crash and a distant fifth in the main race, Piastri's championship lead has shrunk, with rivals Lando Norris and Max Verstappen gaining significant ground. He acknowledged a lack of pace and described the COTA circuit as a challenging venue for him.
Oscar Piastri openly admitted he lacks "any great ideas" to reverse his performance slide and regain control in the F1 World Championship, following a dismal showing at the United States Grand Prix. His struggles culminated in a distant fifth-place finish in the main race and a Turn 1 crash in the Sprint, yielding a mere 10 points for the weekend.
Why it matters:
- Piastri's candor highlights the intense pressure building in the championship fight, especially as his lead diminishes.
- His dip in form, particularly against his teammate Lando Norris and rival Max Verstappen, raises questions about his ability to maintain momentum in the crucial final races.
The Details:
- Piastri finished fifth in the US GP race, adding to a challenging weekend after a Sprint race collision.
- He collected only 10 points over the weekend, significantly fewer than his rivals.
- Sprint Incident: Piastri crashed out at Turn 1 of the Sprint, also involving teammate Lando Norris.
- Norris recovered to finish second in the main race, securing 18 points and narrowing Piastri's lead to 14 points.
- Championship Threat: Max Verstappen, with 33 points from Sprint and GP victories, took 23 points out of Piastri's lead, now sitting 40 points behind.
- Recent Performance Decline: Since winning at Zandvoort, Piastri has conceded 20 points to Norris and a substantial 64 points to Verstappen over five races.
- Piastri's View on Pace: "The pace just wasn't there," Piastri stated, acknowledging a similar issue in both qualifying and the race.
- He described the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) layout as challenging due to its mix of high-speed corners with ride content and very low-speed corners, noting it hasn't been a "happy hunting ground" for him in F1.
What's next:
- Piastri remains optimistic, believing that if he can "find our pace again," the championship will resolve itself.
- The focus for Piastri and his team will be on understanding the underlying issues and finding solutions quickly, as the championship battle intensifies with only five races remaining.
- The Australian will need to quickly adapt and regain his early-season form to fend off the surging challenges from Norris and Verstappen.
Original Article :https://racingnews365.com/oscar-piastri-makes-startling-admission-after-dismal-u...