Oscar Piastri is adamant he is still the 2025 Formula 1 world title favourite despite a resurgent Max Verstappen - who he reckons is no more of a worry than before.
Verstappen claimed his third victory in four on Sunday by dominating the United States Grand Prix from pole ahead of runner-up Lando Norris, whose team-mate and title rival Piastri finished fifth.
It all means Piastri now leads the championship by just 14 points over second-placed Norris with five rounds remaining, while Verstappen is third and 40 off top.
But just four races ago, the Dutch GP which Piastri won, the Australian led Norris and Verstappen by 34 and 104 points respectively, so the situation has turned dramatically.
It comes as Red Bull brought a series of upgrades to Monza, the race after Zandvoort, which has allowed Verstappen to fight the previously dominant McLarens and become F1’s most in-form driver.
Yet Piastri hasn’t been performing well either, finishing third in Italy, crashing out in Baku, fourth in Singapore and was consistently off it in Austin. That included him and Norris being taken out on lap one of the sprint contest, also won by Verstappen from pole.
“I'd still rather be where I am than the other two,” stated Piastri. “Obviously this weekend has not been what I wanted or what I expected.
“This weekend has been quite different to the previous couple: Baku was obviously a bit of a disaster for very different reasons and Singapore was what it was. So I think this weekend has been kind of the odd one out compared to others."
Verstappen looks almost untouchable and McLaren is struggling to find the answers, yet Piastri is just focused on returning to the form that won him four of the opening six grands prix.
When asked if Verstappen is now more of a worry than before, nine-time race winner Piastri said: “Not necessarily. He's obviously there and he's quick, but for me the biggest focus is just trying to work out why this weekend was tough and try and get back on the form we've had earlier in the season.
“So that's my biggest focus and if we can find that again then the results will take care of themselves.”
Verstappen is a four-time world champion and it is that experience which many reckon gives him the edge over the McLaren drivers, who are both in their first genuine F1 title battle.
Yet Piastri is a champion at junior level, winning both the F2 and F3 championships, so thinks that gives “evidence for myself that things can still turn out well and I still fully believe that I can win the championship”.
So when the 24-year-old, who is in his third year of F1, was asked if Verstappen has the psychological edge, Piastri said: “Not necessarily. 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 the pace again, then I don't have any major concerns.
“It's still a long way to go in the championship, it is still for Max anyway. He's obviously chased it down pretty quick, but it's not exactly a small gap with five rounds to go.
"So I think if we can find our pace again, then things will take care of itself.”
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