Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri showing no signs of nerves ahead of F1 decider
Oscar Piastri will drive the most important race of his career this weekend, but the iceman is showing no signs of nerves ahead of the F1 season finale decider.
If Oscar Piastri is feeling the pressure ahead of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he’s hiding it well.
The Australian is always chilled so it’s almost impossible to tell when he’s under the pump but it’s not showing any signs of nerves despite being just one of three still with a chance of winning this year’s world title.
Perhaps it is because he knows he is the long shot of the trio in contention, trailing his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 16 points and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 12.
Or perhaps it is because he has already won the F3 and F2 titles so knows he still has a chance no matter what.
Or it may just be that at age 24, he knows he has got plenty of time up his sleeve to win the world title in the future if he doesn’t get it done this weekend.
Either way, he’s not showing any outward signs of buckling at the sense of occasion.
“Yeah, I’m relaxed,” he said, without any hint he’s bluffing.
“I’ve been on the opposite side of the championship battle in the junior categories, and I know what that felt and it was pretty tough.
“So, coming into it from, you know, the least to lose out of us three is quite different for me.”
The opening day of track action looked best for the title favourite, with Norris ‘not completely happy’ despite being fastest in both FP1 and FP2, Verstappen was second quickest but more than three tenths behind and wondering where he could find more pace while Piastri, who sat out FP1, was 0.680s behind Norris in 11th with lots of work to do.
To claim the title, Piastri will need at least two things to go his way to claim the title. If he wins the race, that will take care of Max Verstappen but he’ll also require Norris to finish outside the top five.
Realistically, he may need Norris and Verstappen to take each other out, but all he can control is his own performance and that’s at least encouraging after he won the sprint and finished second in the main race at Qatar last weekend.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence that I can perform well,” Piastri said.
“Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion, but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.”
While he needs to do something special, Pistri isn’t giving up hope of pinching the title, saying: “It’d be pretty cool, to be honest. I think it often takes a little while for those kinds of things to settle in.
“At the same time, next season starts in a few weeks. So, I think regardless of whatever you’ve achieved in the past – Max is probably the most qualified to say this – but I think you move on pretty quick and try and win the next race that’s in front of you.
“Obviously it would be a very cool achievement but I’m not getting my hopes up too high. We’ll see what happens.”
Piastri’s teammate Norris is also circumspect about his chances, admitting he has more to lose than anyone else.
With a 12 point lead and the fastest car on the grid, Norris has the title within his grasp if he can avoid a calamity - but that’s what worries him.
“I’ve obviously not been in this situation before,” he said.
“At the minute, I feel good. I really don’t think of it at all until you guys (media) ask it all the time.
“That’s also part of the job, so it’s nothing new. It’s nothing that shocks me.
“I guess in terms of position, of course, I have the most to lose because I am the one at the top.
“I’ll do my best to stay there till the end of the year, a few more days. At the same time, if it doesn’t go my way, then I try again next year. It’ll hurt probably for a little while, but that’s life, I’ll crack on and try and do better next season.
“I also feel like I have the mentality of ‘I have nothing to lose,’ because it’s just a race for a championship. But in 30 years’ time, I probably won’t think of it that much either way. So, I’m not too bothered.”
Verstappen said he was also not feeling any strain. With four world titles already under his belt, he can afford to be calm and was quick to remind his championship rivals.
“I’m very relaxed. Nothing to lose. I’m just enjoying being here,” he said..
“The trophy looks the same. I have four of those at home, so it’s nice to add a fifth.
“But at the same time, I’ve already achieved everything that I wanted to achieve in F1, and everything is just a bonus. I just keep doing it because I love it and I enjoy it.”
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Originally published as Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri showing no signs of nerves ahead of F1 decider
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