Oscar Piastri’s Formula 1 championship hopes are on life support after teammate Lando Norris won the Brazilian Grand Prix to move 24 points ahead in the championship race.
Piastri was already playing catch-up with his teammate after starting fourth on the grid, but his chances of a race win were dealt further damage after he was given a 10-second time penalty for making contact with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli on lap six as they fought for second position.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri.Credit: Getty Images
The contact from Piastri had a knock-on effect and subsequently ended Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s race as Antonelli ran into Leclerc’s car, sending him off the tracks.
With Red Bull driver Max Verstappen executing a phenomenal drive to finish ahead of Piastri in third after having started the race from the pit lane, the pressure is on Piastri to outperform Verstappen and Norris in the final three races if he wants to claim the championship.
Speaking after the race, Piastri said he thought the crash was a racing incident, and he had nowhere else to go.
“I had a very clear opportunity [for the overtake], I went for it, the other two on the outside braked quite late,” Piastri said on Sky Sports.
Charles Leclerc crashes out of the Brazilian Grand Prix.Credit: Getty Images
“There was obviously a bit of lock-up into the corner, but that was because I could see Kimi was not going to give me any space, and I can’t disappear, but the decision is what it is.”
Now, Piastri must outscore his teammate and keep Verstappen – who is 25 points behind in the championship – at bay as the season comes to a head.