Oscar Piastri says he left everything on track at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he finished second in the race but missed out on the Drivers’ Championship.
Lando Norris secured his first title on Sunday evening with third place, with Max Verstappen winning from pole position and finishing two points behind Norris. Piastri was always the outsider as he started the weekend 16 points behind the lead, but says he gave himself every chance to stay in the title picture.
“There was nothing left,” Piastri said. “Obviously, we took a bit of a gamble on the strategy to give ourselves some different options and hope that the stars would align to give ourselves the best chance. But ultimately, that didn’t end up happening.”
“I think it took a while for me to find my feet because I also missed a practice session. I think that was the maximum we could have achieved today. We had no answer to Max’s speed. So quite happy with the weekend. We couldn’t have done much more.”
Piastri led for most of the season, from round five in Saudi Arabia to round 20 in Mexico City, but says he has developed as a driver during his third season in Formula 1.
“Obviously I would have liked a slightly different ending, but I think I learned an awful lot about myself as a racing driver and myself as a person this year,” he said. I think if you had presented the pole positions, the wins and the podiums this season at the beginning of the year, I would certainly have been very happy with that.
“Even in the difficult moments I learned a lot about myself and how I can be stronger in the future. So I think in the end there is of course a bit of disappointment, but I think I can be very proud of the season I had and learn enough lessons for the future.”
With McLaren teammate Norris winning the championship, Piastri says Norris deserves it after emerging victorious from the three-way battle.
“I think [he’s] a very deserving winner,” he said. “I know it will be tough every weekend I go to the track. And I think we’ve pushed each other over the last three years. I think this season in particular has been tighter than ever.
“He’s had a great season. Probably all three of us have, but obviously me and Lando in the same team, in the same car, we’ve had our ups and downs at different times. In the end, I think he’s had a good season and a deserving champion.”
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