Piastri 'Happier' with Car in Brazil After Title Setbacks

Oscar Piastri has expressed renewed confidence and happiness with his car's performance in Brazil, a welcome change after recent races saw his championship lead diminish. His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, has been in dominant form, notably taking the championship lead in Mexico and securing pole position for Saturday's Sprint race in Brazil.

Why it matters:

Piastri's championship campaign has hit a rough patch, with Norris's ascendance eroding his points advantage. Finding renewed comfort and pace behind the wheel is crucial for Piastri to halt Norris's momentum and reassert himself as a strong title contender, especially as the season approaches its critical final stages.

The details:

• Recent Struggles: Last time out in Mexico, Norris secured a dominant victory, while Piastri could only manage a fifth-place finish, losing his championship lead.
• Brazil's Sprint Qualifying: Norris continued his strong form in Brazil, setting the fastest lap during Sprint Qualifying to clinch pole for Saturday's race.
• Piastri's Position: Piastri qualified third, with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli splitting the two McLaren title rivals.
• Piastri's Feedback: Piastri admitted that the soft tire felt "a bit different to what I expected" during qualifying, leading to "a couple of big moments" on his first lap.
• Improved Feeling: Despite qualifying third, Piastri stated, "Ultimately, I felt much happier today than the last couple of weeks." He also noted that practice went "very well."
• Car Adjustments: During Sprint Qualifying, McLaren made "a few things which took a little bit of getting used to again."
• Optimistic Outlook: Piastri concluded, "Ultimately, pretty happy. I would have liked a little bit more but we can definitely fight with what we've got and it's a lot more points on Sunday."

What's next:

Heavy rain is forecast for Saturday's Sprint race, potentially altering the competitive landscape. Piastri is hopeful that his car will remain competitive in wet conditions, stating, "It's going to be an interesting day. Let's see what weather we get. I'll try and take whatever opportunities there are. The pace in the car has been really good, so hopefully that translates to whatever we get."

This shift in conditions could either play into Piastri's renewed confidence or present further challenges in his bid to regain championship momentum.