Piastri doesn’t seem to feel the pressure after taking the lead in the drivers’ standings: the words of the Australian
Oscar Piastri is enjoying the moment. After his latest victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver from Australia has climbed to the top of the drivers’ championship, pulling ten points clear of his teammate Norris. On the eve of the race weekend in Miami, the number 81 shared his clear and composed perspective on his new role as championship leader.
Piastri and the lead in the Drivers’ Championship
Being at the top of the standings doesn’t seem to weigh too heavily on Piastri’s shoulders; in fact, he enjoys the feeling of being the benchmark to beat: “Personally, I like being in the position of the one being chased, because it usually means you’re doing something right. I’m pretty calm about it — the gap is very small and we’re only at the fifth or sixth race, so it’s not something that worries me too much “.
For the young Australian, however, leadership isn’t just a matter of standings — it’s the tangible result of the work done together with the team: “It’s been a great effort from both myself and the whole team. I’m proud of the performance we’ve put together to get to this position — even more than the fact of being the championship leader itself “.
Looking ahead to the upcoming race at the Miami circuit, Piastri identifies Norris as the toughest rival, having won last year’s edition of the Grand Prix: “Obviously, we’re in the same car, so I know his potential, and clearly Lando is by no means a slow driver. We’ll see how the pecking order shapes up, but I believe our car has been consistently competitive “.
Photo: F1, McLaren