Just as calm and measured amid his obvious disappointment as he’s been level-headed during the highest points of a remarkable season, Oscar Piastri is confident of rediscovering that giddy feeling of being “unstoppable” behind the wheel of his McLaren.
Taking his title disappointment on the chin on Sunday after finishing runner-up in Abu Dhabi and third in the championship race, the Australian star reckoned he was ready to use any sense of anti-climax to fuel a push to become a world champion of the future.
With McLaren team boss Andrea Stella adamant he could go on and win the drivers’ championship “multiple” times, Piastri admitted there had been times in the season, as he had powered 34 points clear of his teammate and new champion Lando Norris, when he felt just about invincible.
He won seven races in all and only suffered one major six-week blip near the end of the campaign when his lead evaporated and Norris cashed in.
“I’ve learned plenty of things along the way this season,” he admitted. “When things have been good this year, I’ve felt unstoppable at points – and to even be able to get to that point is a pretty cool feeling.
“There’s been plenty of times where that’s not been the case, too, and I think I’ve learned a lot of lessons on how to deal with tough moments, adversity, from different directions.
“So ultimately, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve obviously been in championship battles before in the junior categories, but in F1, it’s got a little bit extra to it, so I’ve learned plenty about that and think that’ll only help me as I go forward.”
Piastri was adamant he felt “pretty good” about his final-day effort as he finished behind winner Max Verstappen, with Norris’s third place enough to secure him the crown.
“On a personal level, it’s obviously not quite the ending that I wished for but when you look at the season as a whole, I’m very proud of the work I, and my team, have been able to put in to make so much progress from last year.
“I’m looking forward to plenty more fights in the future.”
Losing to Norris, ultimately, by just 13 points, Piastri could reflect on that costly barren spell, which started with a calamitous weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and continued with disappointing outings at the US, Mexican and Sao Paulo Grands Prix.
“It was nice to find some form again because it would have been pretty painful to end it on the note of Austin, Mexico and Brazil,” he shrugged.
“Ultimately, there were ups and downs through the year, but I’ll look back on the ups with a lot of pride and joy, and look on the downs with plenty of lessons learned.
“There are plenty more years left to go and hopefully plenty more opportunities.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/motorsport/piastri-determined-to-regain-unstoppable-feeling-c-20924752
