Oscar Piastri has lost his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. Despite momentum working against the Australian, there are still plenty of reasons to believe he can win the world title.<\/p>\n
Piastri won seven of the first 15 grands prix this season, but has not been on the top step in the previous five rounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Australian finished on the podium in 14 of the opening 16 grands prix, but has failed to place in the top three in the next four.<\/p>\n
The dip in form has eradicated what was a 34-point lead to Norris after round 15 in the Netherlands, Piastri’s last win.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, Piastri’s fifth-place effort at the Mexican Grand Prix was arguably one of his better drives this season.<\/p>\n
Piastri had not looked comfortable in his McLaren that weekend, compared to Norris, who was a class above the field and took victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the Australian improved throughout the race, and on a track that can be difficult to overtake on, climbed from ninth after the first lap to finish in the top five.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Circuits with low grip, like in Mexico, appear not to suit Piastri’s style of driving. But McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella said after the race two weeks ago that Piastri was able to adapt in those conditions and improve as the weekend went on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
F1 driver says he ‘could have killed’ marshals after shocking near miss<\/a><\/p>\n A camera captures the terrifying moment two track marshals run in front of Liam Lawson’s car during Formula 1’s Mexico City Grand Prix.<\/p>\n While acknowledging it was a tough weekend for the Australian, Stella said it was an important learning experience as Piastri enters the final four rounds of the championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It’s important for Oscar that we go through this kind of experience in which we learn new tools to add to the toolbox, because that’s how you become the most complete version of a Formula 1 driver,” Stella said after the Mexico City Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n “And this is also important for the next four races in which we’re going to find, again, different conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n “So, we need to be ready for all of them. But I think Oscar should be very proud and happy with this race.”<\/p>\n The S\u00e3o Paulo track is traditionally high-grip, requiring a car to have plenty of downforce. In theory, this should be better for Piastri, who won in the Netherlands on a track that also requires high downforce.\u00a0<\/p>\n When does the F1 S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix begin?<\/p>\n In Australia, the Formula 1 S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix will be held on Monday, November 10.<\/p>\n Here is when the race will begin in each of Australia’s states and territories:<\/p>\n 4am AEDT: NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas3:30am ACDT: South Australia3am AEST: Queensland2:30am ACST: Northern Territory1am AWST: Western AustraliaABC Sport Daily podcast<\/a><\/p>\n ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that’s making headlines.<\/p>\n There is also a sprint race this weekend in Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n The sprint race, which is one-third of a grand prix distance, will run overnight on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9.<\/p>\n Here is when the sprint race will begin in each of Australia’s states and territories:<\/p>\n 1am AEDT, Sunday, November 9: NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas12:30am ACDT, Sunday, November 9: South Australia12am AEST, Sunday, November 9: Queensland11:30pm ACST, Saturday, November 8: Northern Territory10pm AWST, Saturday, November 8: Western AustraliaHow can I watch and follow the F1 S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix?<\/p>\n Fox Sports and its streaming platform Kayo will be broadcasting the S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Those watching on Foxtel can watch the race on Fox Sports, channel 506.<\/p>\n You can also follow all the action with the ABC Sport live blog, from pre-race drama to the post-race synopsis.<\/p>\n ABC Sport’s live blog of the Formula 1 S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix, in Brazil, will begin at 2am AEDT on Monday, November 10.<\/p>\n What do I need to know about the Aut\u00f3dromo Jos\u00e9 Carlos Pace? Illustration of the Aut\u00f3dromo Jos\u00e9 Carlos Pace, hosting the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. (F1)<\/p>\n A lap around the Aut\u00f3dromo Jos\u00e9 Carlos Pace is completed in quick time and features plenty of challenges for drivers.<\/p>\n The Senna S \u2014 turns one and two, named after legendary champion Ayrton Senna, is sharp and downhill and comes at the end of the start-finish straight.<\/p>\n This is often the best place to overtake on the racetrack.<\/p>\n Turn four, a sharp left-hander at the end of the circuit’s other straight, is another opportunity for overtaking.<\/p>\n The rest of the lap is full of sweeping turns and hard braking zones, providing a test for the driver and machine.<\/p>\n Fast facts about the Aut\u00f3dromo Jos\u00e9 Carlos PaceFirst race: 1973Number of laps:\u00a071Lap distance:\u00a04.309kmRace distance:\u00a0305.939kmFastest grand prix lap:\u00a01:10.540 \u2014 Valtteri Bottas (2018)<\/p>\n
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