Oscar Piastri Shrugs Off Verstappen, Norris Closing In; Says 'I’d Rather Be Where I Am' In F1 Title Hunt

Last Updated:October 20, 2025, 18:29 IST

Oscar Piastri stays optimistic in his Formula One title chase after a tough Texas weekend, with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen closing in as five rounds and two sprints remain.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri (AP)

Oscar Piastri remains confident in his Formula One title bid, despite a tricky weekend in Texas that saw rivals close in on his lead.

The Australian retired from Saturday’s sprint after colliding with McLaren teammate Lando Norris at the first corner, and finished fifth in Sunday’s main race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.

His championship lead has shrunk: Norris is now just 14 points behind, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who dominated both races, sits 40 points adrift after trailing Piastri by 104 at the end of August.

“You know, I’ve been in fights that were as close or even closer than what they are now," Piastri said. “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."

He stressed that performance, not points swings, will ultimately decide the title. “The faster you go, the more points you’re going to score, and that’s what I’ll focus on," Piastri said.

Acknowledging Verstappen’s recent hot streak—three wins in the last four races and a charge toward a fifth consecutive title — Piastri remained unfazed. “He’s obviously had a good run in the last few races. But ultimately, if we can find our way again, find our pace — and certainly for me, find my pace again — then I don’t have any major concerns," the 24-year-old added.

He admitted his struggles were more about qualifying than race pace. “I’d still rather be where I am than the other two. 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."

With two sprints and five rounds remaining, Piastri knows the title fight is far from over — but he’s determined to keep the pedal down.

(with Reuters inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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News sports Oscar Piastri Shrugs Off Verstappen, Norris Closing In; Says 'I’d Rather Be Where I Am' In F1 Title Hunt

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