Piastri Admits “Things are Very Tough” as Championship Hopes Dim After Chaotic Sรฃo Paulo Grand Prix
SรO PAULO, BRAZIL – โ Oscar Piastriโ is facing a crisis in form and a looming suspension threat after a disastrous weekend at the Sรฃo Paulo Grand Prix, admitting “things are very tough atโฃ the moment.” The McLarenโ driver received a ten-secondโข timeโ penalty and two penalty points on his racing license following a collision-filledโฃ main race, exacerbating aโข recent dip in performance โthat has seen teammate Lando Norris surge ahead in the championship standings.
Piastri’s struggles unfolded during both the sprint and main races. He initially lost control during the sprint race and then triggered a multi-carโ incident in the Grand Prix, making contact with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who subsequently collided with Charles Leclerc while โattempting to overtake. The incident resulted in the penalty points, bringing Piastri closer to aโข race suspension – ten points trigger a mandatory raceโ ban. Norris’s victory in Brazil extended his lead overโฃ Piastri to 24 points with onlyโ three races remaining, substantially jeopardizing Piastri’s title aspirations.
“It is what it is,” Piastri told Viaplay after the race. “I thought I had put myself in a good position to limit the damage, but that turned out not to be theโ case. A tough afternoon, a tough weekend. There just seems to be a lot of things tough right now.”โ Piastri also contested the penalty, stating, “I had aโฃ veryโ good restart, maybe braked a little too late, โbut I stayed within the lines and couldn’t go anywhere. The decision is what it is.”
The dramatic turn of events marks a stark contrast to Piastri’s position before the summer break, โคwhereโ he was a strong contender for the championship. With the season nearing โits conclusion, Piastri faces an uphill battle to regain momentum and salvage his title hopes while together avoiding a potential race suspension.