P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri faces a huge task in Abu Dhabi to become world champion, following a major McLaren mistake in Qatar.
Oscar Piastri denied describing McLaren’s strategic error at the Qatar Grand Prix as a “catastrophe,” despite feeling hurt by missing out on the victory. Piastri’s dominant performance in the race included securing pole position and leading comfortably until McLaren chose not to pit both drivers during a safety car period following a crash by Nico Hulkenberg on the seventh lap. While other drivers pitted for the first of their two stops in a race with limited tyre durability, McLaren’s decision meant Piastri lost the lead after both his stops, ultimately finishing second to Max Verstappen. McLaren apologized for the costly mistake, which deprived the Australian driver of a win and dealt a blow to his championship chances. Piastri reflected on the pivotal moment when he realized the win slipping away, acknowledging the need for a review and expressing the pain of the situation. Despite the setback, Piastri remains focused on the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and believes that overcoming challenges will make him stronger in the long run.
