Oscar Piastri claims he's nonetheless F1 title favorite regardless of Max Verstappen US GP win

Oscar Piastri is adamant he’s nonetheless the 2025 Formulation 1 world title favorite regardless of a resurgent Max Verstappen – who he reckons is not any extra of a fear than earlier than.

Verstappen claimed his third victory in 4 on Sunday by dominating america Grand Prix from pole forward of runner-up Lando Norris, whose team-mate and title rival Piastri completed fifth.

All of it means Piastri now leads the championship by simply 14 factors over second-placed Norris with 5 rounds remaining, whereas Verstappen is third and 40 off prime.

However simply 4 races in the past, the Dutch GP which Piastri gained, the Australian led Norris and Verstappen by 34 and 104 factors respectively, so the scenario has turned dramatically.

It comes as Purple Bull introduced a sequence of upgrades to Monza, the race after Zandvoort, which has allowed Verstappen to battle the beforehand dominant McLarens and turn out to be F1’s most in-form driver.

But Piastri hasn’t been performing properly both, ending third in Italy, crashing out in Baku, fourth in Singapore and was constantly off it in Austin. That included him and Norris being taken out on lap one of many dash contest, additionally gained by Verstappen from pole.

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing

Photograph by: Peter Fox / Getty Photographs

“I would nonetheless reasonably be the place I’m than the opposite two,” said Piastri. “Clearly this weekend has not been what I wished or what I anticipated.

“This weekend has been fairly totally different to the earlier couple: Baku was clearly a little bit of a catastrophe for very totally different causes and Singapore was what it was. So I feel this weekend has been type of the odd one out in comparison with others.”

Verstappen appears virtually untouchable and McLaren is struggling to search out the solutions, but Piastri is simply targeted on returning to the shape that gained him 4 of the opening six grands prix.

When requested if Verstappen is now extra of a fear than earlier than, nine-time race winner Piastri stated: “Not essentially. He is clearly there and he is fast, however for me the most important focus is simply making an attempt to work out why this weekend was powerful and attempt to get again on the shape we have had earlier within the season.

“In order that’s my greatest focus and if we are able to discover that once more then the outcomes will care for themselves.”

Verstappen is a four-time world champion and it’s that have which many reckon provides him the sting over the McLaren drivers, who’re each of their first real F1 title battle.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs

But Piastri is a champion at junior degree, successful each the F2 and F3 championships, so thinks that offers “proof for myself that issues can nonetheless prove properly and I nonetheless totally imagine that I can win the championship”.

So when the 24-year-old, who’s in his third 12 months of F1, was requested if Verstappen has the psychological edge, Piastri stated: “Not essentially. He is clearly had a very good run in the previous few races, however in the end if we are able to discover our approach once more, discover our tempo, and definitely for me, discover the tempo once more, then I haven’t got any main considerations.

“It is nonetheless an extended approach to go within the championship, it’s nonetheless for Max anyway. He is clearly chased it down fairly fast, however it’s not precisely a small hole with 5 rounds to go.

“So I feel if we are able to discover our tempo once more, then issues will care for itself.”

Pictures from United States GP – Race

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing