Formula 1: Piastri Set for 'Increased Excitement' in Championship Pursuit
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Synopsis
McLaren's Oscar Piastri is feeling confident after his Bahrain Grand Prix victory, closing in on teammate Lando Norris for the championship. The Australian driver is eager to maximize his car's potential in upcoming races.
Key Takeaways
- Oscar Piastri is confident after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix.
- He has narrowed the points gap to Lando Norris.
- Piastri aims to maximize his car's performance.
- He acknowledges the importance of mental strength.
- His focus remains on winning races and qualifying for pole.
New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) McLaren driver Oscar Piastri is riding high on confidence after clinching victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, which has narrowed the gap with his teammate and championship leader Lando Norris to just three points. The Australian is eager to maximize the potential of his car in the forthcoming races of the season.
Piastri faced a challenging start at his home race, the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where he slid off the track in difficult conditions, ultimately finishing ninth instead of potentially securing a podium position. However, the 24-year-old made a robust comeback with wins in China and Bahrain, and a third-place finish in Suzuka in between.
When asked about his mental fortitude to bounce back from the Australian disappointment, he stated, “I believe it is one of my strengths. I’ve recognized it as a distinctive trait and have focused on enhancing it.
“Although it was tough following Melbourne, the fact that I had a strong performance during Practice and Qualifying, and was competitive in the Race, provided more encouragement than disappointment.
“The season has been progressing well, and I’m striving to extract the most from what we know is a fast car. It’s been an exciting start to the season, and I hope for even more fun ahead,” he expressed.
As McLaren appears to be among the frontrunners in these early stages, both Piastri and Norris have been asked how they plan to handle their rivalry for the Drivers' championship.
Rejecting any notion of altering his racing strategy, considering his championship aspirations, Piastri remarked, “It’s still very early in the season. We have 20 races remaining. I’m fully aware that I’m in the running for a championship, a fact I recognized before the season commenced.
“For me, the best approach to achieve that, especially at this early stage, is to perform at my best each weekend and accumulate as many points as possible, then see where we stand towards the end of the year.
“The primary strategy for defending a championship is to be aggressive, and currently, my focus is on winning races and aiming for pole position, which will greatly aid my championship pursuit.
“I’ll strive to do that, but it’s also the most enjoyable way to race, so I’ll keep pursuing victories,” he concluded.
