Piastri unfazed as Verstappen closes championship gap
Oscar Piastri isn’t hitting the panic button despite watching Max Verstappen chip away at his Formula 1 championship lead.
“Try and get back to the form we had earlier in the season. That’s my biggest focus,” the Australian driver told reporters.
Piastri’s comfortable advantage has shrunk dramatically in recent weeks, but he’s keeping his eyes on what he can control.
“The team is obviously there, but for me, the biggest focus is just trying to work our way through this weekend with hope and try to get back to the form we’ve had earlier in the season,” he explained. “That’s my biggest focus, and if we can find that again, it’s good. The results will take care of themselves.”
The numbers tell a concerning story for McLaren fans.
Piastri’s once-massive 104-point cushion after the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort has melted away to just 40 points following Verstappen’s win at the United States Grand Prix.
That’s a 64-point swing in just a few races.
## Brundle warns of mental game
F1 veteran commentator Martin Brundle recently cautioned the McLaren team about self-sabotage as the pressure mounts.
The 66-year-old stressed McLaren mustn’t “step on their own tail” as the championship battle intensifies.
He particularly emphasized the mental side of the fight, warning the papaya-colored team not to let Verstappen “get into their heads” during the crucial final races.
Former racing driver Danica Patrick shared similar thoughts, highlighting how important it is for both McLaren drivers to stay mentally strong against Verstappen’s psychological warfare.
The coming weeks will show whether Piastri can rediscover his early-season magic or if Verstappen’s championship experience will prove decisive.
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