McLaren driver Oscar Piastri says it was \u201cquite impressive\u201d that his F1 2025 title challenge became a discussion point in Australian politics this week.<\/p>\n
Piastri is aiming to become only the third Australian F1 world champion this weekend, following in the footsteps of the late Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri retains slim hope of F1 2025 title at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/p>\n
The Perth-born driver enters the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix third in the drivers\u2019 standings, trailing Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen by four points and McLaren teammate Lando Norris by a further 12.<\/p>\n
Piastri remains without a race victory since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, with a McLaren strategy mistake denying him a shot at the win in Qatar last weekend.<\/p>\n
Despite finishing two places in front of Norris in Lusail, Piastri\u2019s second place on a day Verstappen took victory ensured that he remains the clear outsider in a three-way title battle.<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri vs Lando Norris: McLaren head-to-head scores for F1 2025<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head race statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com on Tuesday<\/a>, Piastri\u2019s misfortune reached the floors of the Australian Parliament earlier this week when it was suggested by a local politician that McLaren could be \u201cbiased against Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship.\u201d<\/p>\n Another added that Piastri \u201cdefinitely\u201d has \u201ccopped some raw decisions this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Appearing in Thursday\u2019s FIA press conference in Abu Dhabi, Piastri said it was \u201cpretty cool\u201d to see his name mentioned in Parliament \u201cregardless of why\u201d the topic was brought up.<\/p>\n He told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets: \u201cI did see it reach Parliament. That\u2019s quite impressive.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the support from back home has been really special. I obviously don\u2019t see a huge amount of it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve not being back to Australia since the grand prix [in Melbourne in March], but I think the fact that Formula 1 and my name \u2013 regardless of why \u2013 was in Parliament in Australia is pretty cool in some ways.<\/p>\n \u201cA pretty cool thing and I guess it signifies the magnitude of the support and the following that we\u2019ve had back home.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s very, very cool to see and I\u2019ll try my best to bring it home for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n On the last two occasions three drivers or more drivers have entered the last race of the season with a chance of the title, the driver who began the title decider third in the standings has emerged victorious.<\/p>\n Ferrari\u2019s Kimi Raikkonen overcame McLaren pair Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in 2007, with Sebastian Vettel beating Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber \u2013 now acting as Piastri\u2019s manager \u2013 in 2010.<\/p>\n Asked if he can take inspiration from the feats of Raikkonen and Vettel, Piastri replied: \u201cNice stat to have, given that I\u2019m in that position.<\/p>\n \u201cBut just because history has gone that way once doesn\u2019t mean it will again, so I\u2019m certainly not leaning on that, but maybe it gives me the tiniest amount of comfort that it is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he will be aiming for \u201cretribution\u201d for Webber\u2019s 2010 heartbreak this weekend, Piastri replied: \u201cNo. I think, for me, I\u2019m trying to do it for myself.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, as racing drivers, we\u2019re pretty selfish people most of the time and ultimately we\u2019re the only ones in the car doing it for our own personal pride.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, there are a lot of people along the journey \u2013 your family, your friends, managers, whoever it might be, people that supported you.<\/p>\n \u201cBut ultimately, you start out in this sport because you want to do it for yourself, so that\u2019s first and foremost.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Mark would love to see me win, obviously, but there are no thoughts about paying that back or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Oscar Piastri and McLaren from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Oscar Piastri news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 McLaren news<\/a><\/p>\n McLaren has been reluctant to enforce team orders as long as both its drivers remain mathematically in contention for the title.<\/p>\n