Oscar Piastri Reveals Where He Stands On Aiding Lando Norris’ F1 Title Bid In Abu Dhabi

Star Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri has clearly stated that he will drive in the final race of the season with his eyes all set on the drivers’ championship, adding that and even though winning the race wouldn’t guarantee him the title, he would like to be in the correct place when the time is ripe.

Defending world champion Max Verstappen seized pole position and a crucial edge for Sunday’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP,

with a blistering late lap that edged out rivals Lando Norris and Piastri in a high-pressure qualifying session.

Overturning a 16-point gap in a single race is a steep ask. Even with a victory in Abu Dhabi, Piastri would only take the title if Norris finishes sixth or lower.

Barring any chaos on race day, Piastri may

have to set aside his own title hopes and switch to supporting Norris to prevent Verstappen from walking away with the championship.

“First, I will go for the championship. The championship, even if I win the race, isn’t in my hands, but I will try to be in the right place at the right time,” Norris said after Saturday’s qualifying session.

Piastri got off to a tricky start in Abu Dhabi, missing FP1 as McLaren put reserve driver Pato O’Ward behind the wheel to meet the requirement of giving junior drivers track time twice per season in place of each regular driver.

In FP2, Piastri found himself in P11, while Norris topped the timesheets.

Piastri showed pace from the outset in qualifying. In Q1, he was more than half a second faster than Norris. The gap narrowed to about two-tenths in Q2, before Norris edged him out in Q3.

“I am pretty happy. Felt like Q1, that was the first lap that was actually good this weekend, which was nice to have it at the right time. Then, I think the laps in Q3 were pretty good as well,” Piastri said while speaking to F1.