Oscar Piastri is maintaining a confident outlook on his Formula 1 title chances, despite seeing his lead shrink following the United States Grand Prix. The McLaren driver acknowledges the growing threat from teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, but insists he would "rather be where I am" in the championship fight.
Verstappen dominated the weekend in Austin, winning both the sprint race and the main race, further intensifying the title race. Norris finished second, reducing his deficit to Piastri to just 14 points. Verstappen is now only 40 points behind Piastri.
Piastri endured a difficult weekend in Austin, which included a collision with Norris in the sprint race. He ultimately finished fifth in the Grand Prix, nearly 30 seconds behind Verstappen. This marks the fourth consecutive race where Piastri has finished behind both Norris and Verstappen. Neither McLaren driver has secured a win since Zandvoort five races ago.
Despite Verstappen rapidly closing the gap, Piastri remains relatively unconcerned. He stated that with five rounds remaining, it is "not exactly a small gap". He acknowledges that Max and Red Bull have found a lot of pace since the summer break. Piastri believes that if he can rediscover his earlier form and pace, things will "take care of themselves".
Verstappen admitted he wouldn't have believed anyone who told him after Zandvoort that he would be only 40 points behind with five races remaining. He emphasized the need for perfection to maintain a chance at the title.
Piastri recognizes the challenges presented by the Circuit of the Americas, noting its mix of high and low-speed corners, which haven't traditionally suited his driving style. He said that this layout is quite interesting and hasn't been a particularly happy hunting ground for him.
The Australian driver remains determined to turn his form around. Piastri, a former F2 and F3 champion, acknowledges the need to turn around his form but remains happy with his position with five rounds remaining and 141 points to fight for.
Norris's hopes of victory in Austin were hampered by losing out to Charles Leclerc at the start, leading to a race-long battle for second place. Verstappen started on pole and remained unchallenged throughout the race, securing his fourth victory in five years in Austin.
With the title fight intensifying, the upcoming race in Mexico City, a track where Verstappen has a strong record, will be crucial. The pressure is on for Piastri to regain his momentum and fend off the advances of his rivals as the season approaches its climax.
