Piastri Unshaken: 'I Still Fully Believe I Can Win the Title'

After a challenging weekend in Austin, Oscar Piastri saw his lead in the Driver's standings diminish, but the championship leader remains steadfast in his confidence that the 2025 title is still within his grasp. Despite a shrinking points cushion, Piastri insists he's as confident as ever, focusing on performance rather than the scoreboard.

Why it matters:

• Oscar Piastri's championship lead, once comfortable, has been significantly eroded, turning the 2025 title race into a tight, five-round battle.
• His calm demeanor and focus on performance, even after a bruising weekend, highlight a mental resilience crucial for a title contender.
• The resurgence of Max Verstappen and the consistent threat from teammate Lando Norris mean Piastri's ability to bounce back and find pace will be key in the decisive closing rounds.

The Details:

• Points Cushion Shrinks: After a first-lap collision in Saturday's sprint and only a fifth-place finish in Sunday's main race at the Circuit of the Americas, Piastri's lead over Lando Norris dropped from 22 to 14 points.
• Verstappen's Surge: Max Verstappen, who dominated both Austin races, has dramatically cut his deficit from 104 points in late August to just 40 points, making him a serious contender once more.
• Remaining Points: With 141 points still available across five remaining rounds, the championship is wide open.
• Past Experience: Piastri draws on previous close title fights, stating, "I've got the evidence for myself that things can still turn out well and I still fully believe that I can win the championship."
• Focus on Performance: The Australian emphasizes that winning the championship comes down to performance, not just monitoring points. "The faster you go, the more points you're going to score and that's what I'll focus on," he stated.
• No Panic Over Verstappen: Piastri is not losing sleep over Verstappen's charge, preferring to address McLaren's inconsistencies, particularly in qualifying, rather than reacting to rivals' form. He added, "There's still a long way to go in the championship… he's obviously chased it down pretty quick, but it's not exactly a small gap with five rounds to go."

What's next:

The championship battle moves to Mexico, Brazil, and Qatar, with a sprint race in the latter. These upcoming rounds will be crucial for Piastri to regain his momentum and extend his lead. His ability to perform under pressure and deliver consistent pace will determine if he can withstand the challenges from Norris and the surging Verstappen to clinch the 2025 title.