![\"Piastri](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/XPB_1392347_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri has reflected with pride on his 2025 title campaign that fell just short of a win. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri has reflected with pride on his 2025 title campaign that fell just short of a win. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Piastri entered the final race in Abu Dhabi needing a major swing in results to overturn Lando Norris\u2019s 16-point championship lead, but a strategic gamble and a lack of pace against Max Verstappen left him second behind the Dutchman at the flag.<\/p>\n
With Norris finishing behind him, the Briton sealed the crown as Piastri was left to reflect on a year in which he led the standings longer than anyone else.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Speedcafe after the finale, Piastri said he can reflect on the year \u201cvery, very proud\u201d of his progress even if the final outcome was not the one he wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think definitely I can be very, very proud of the season I\u2019ve had,\u201d Piastri said. \u201cI think when I look at this season compared to my first two years in F1, this year has been head and shoulders above the first two.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that proving to himself what he can achieve has been a defining part of his third season.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, whilst the end result is not quite what I wanted, there\u2019s a lot of optimism and a lot of strength that I\u2019ve gained from proving to myself what I can achieve through this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are the kinds of things that are not necessarily tied to results. So I think for me, I can definitely take that forward into the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only my third attempt at this in F1. Hopefully, I\u2019ve got plenty more to go, but there are definitely lessons from this year that will only make me stronger.<\/p>\n
Piastri entered the Abu Dhabi decider needing a near-perfect scenario to overturn Lando Norris\u2019 points lead. He passed his team-mate early and ran ahead of him all race, but third place for Norris sealed the McLaren driver\u2019s maiden title and left Piastri third in the standings behind Norris and Verstappen.<\/p>\n
The result is still best championship finish by an Australian since Daniel Ricciardo\u2019s third place in 2016 and a season that delivered seven victories \u2014 the most ever by an Australian in a single F1 campaign.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the race itself, Piastri said he felt he had maximised everything available.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think, honestly, pretty good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, there wasn\u2019t anything left out there.<\/p>\n
So we tried a bit of a gamble on the strategy to give ourselves some different options and hope that the stars aligned and give ourselves the best chance, but ultimately in the end that didn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Missing a practice session added to the challenge on a weekend where he admitted McLaren simply did not have an answer for the pace ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that was the maximum we could have achieved today. We didn\u2019t have an answer for Max\u2019s pace, so pretty happy with the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut yeah, not much more we could\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the season as a whole, Piastri said the experience had been transformative.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think, you know, obviously, I would have wished for a slightly different ending, but I think this year I\u2019ve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a race car driver. Myself as a person,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted he would have been \u201cpretty happy\u201d at the start of the year if offered the eventual tally of poles, wins and podiums, adding: \u201cEven in the tough moments I\u2019ve learned a lot about myself and how I can be stronger in the future with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Piastri also praised Norris\u2019 breakthrough title, calling him \u201ca very deserving winner.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the pair had pushed each other harder than ever this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I know that every weekend I go on track, it\u2019s going to be tough. And I think we\u2019ve pushed each other through the last three years, I think especially this season, it\u2019s been tighter than ever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s had a great season and I think probably all three of us, but obviously myself and Lando in the same team and the same car, have had our ups and downs at different moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yeah, ultimately, I think he\u2019s had a good season and a deserving champion.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the lessons he will take forward, the 24-year-old said they stretched across every aspect of his racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately both I think,\u201d he said when asked if his learning referenced specific weekends or a broader picture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely been lessons directly to do with how I drive the car. How I can be better in different conditions and just become a better all-round driver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s also been lessons outside the car as well with dealing with adversity at times. Dealing with difficult moments that I\u2019ve definitely learned a lot about.\u201d<\/p>\n
With 91 days until his home race in Melbourne, Piastri plans to briefly step away and reset before returning to tackle the 2026 regulation overhaul.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice having another summer break,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m obviously going back to Australia for a little bit. See my family and friends, give my annual hellos and goodbyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, yeah, I mean, I\u2019m just looking forward to some time away from racing for a little bit to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
He expects the short off-season will be vital before preparations begin for McLaren\u2019s next major challenge under sweeping new regulation changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously a long season and demanding season and as enjoyable as driving the fastest cars in the world is, I think a break every now and again is always a nice thing,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo yeah, just looking forward to spending some time not thinking about race cars and spending some time with the people around me and then, yeah, obviously, like you pointed out, the new season\u2019s not far away.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there\u2019s obviously a massive challenge ahead of everyone for next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norris wins F1 championship in tense Abu Dhabi finale<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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