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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 says ‘funny things can happen’ in title showdowns, as he lines up third on the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 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 says ‘funny things can happen’ in title showdowns, as he lines up third on the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The Australian must finish in the top two on Sunday and rely on results swinging sharply in his favour, with a 16-point deficit to Norris and four points to Verstappen making him the outsider in the three-way fight.<\/p>\n
But after securing third on the grid<\/a>, Piastri remained upbeat about his chances, drawing inspiration from past title shocks and his own experience of fighting for titles in junior categories.<\/p>\n Asked in the post-qualifying press conference what lessons he brings into the finale, he said: \u201cFunny things can happen. That\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned.\u201d<\/p>\n Piastri was satisfied with his qualifying effort after a quieter start to the weekend, describing the result as representative of McLaren\u2019s true pace over one lap.<\/p>\n Verstappen ultimately proved out of reach with a commanding pole, while Norris edged Piastri by just three hundredths.<\/p>\n \u201cI think overall, pretty happy,\u201d Piastri said about his qualifying.<\/p>\n \t\tWin 4 x Supercars event tickets and celebrate with the winers in the Pirtek Victory Lane – Enter Now!<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI feel like Q1, that was the first lap that was actually good for the weekend, which was nice to have it at the right time.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then I think the laps in Q3 were pretty good as well\u2026 I didn\u2019t have an answer for Max\u2019s pace today.<\/p>\n \u201cSo ultimately, pretty happy. Would have loved a bit more, but we didn\u2019t have it.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted his best lap \u201cwas pretty good\u201d but conceded he was \u201cjust not quite quick enough today, but it sets up a pretty exciting day tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n With Verstappen looking especially strong in long-run simulations and Norris consistently quick throughout the weekend, Piastri acknowledged that his title hopes realistically depend on the race unfolding in unexpected ways.<\/p>\n From third on the grid, he believes the opening laps will matter but stopped short of planning any desperate moves.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom where I\u2019m sat, I need things to happen in the race to win the championship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I\u2019ll wait and see if those things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n His long-run picture remains uncertain after limited mileage earlier in the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve not done that much long running,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cIt looked okay without being anything spectacular.<\/p>\n \u201cSo yeah, I would have loved the long runs to have gone a bit better, but we\u2019re here now, and we\u2019ll see how the conditions and the track evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n While Piastri lines up as the underdog, McLaren\u2019s leadership insists the team is well placed to fight, with both drivers starting directly behind Verstappen and separated by just 0.029s in qualifying.<\/p>\n Team principal Andrea Stella said the margins between the pair have defined the entire season.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving Oscar and Lando so close is the story of the season,\u201d Stella told SkySportsF1.<\/p>\n \u201cThis qualifying is symbolic of what\u2019s been a very, very close performance between Oscar and Lando and it\u2019s fair, and it\u2019s good that they are both here fighting for the championship, and in a good position to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n Stella accepted that Red Bull and Verstappen had an edge in pure qualifying pace, but stressed that McLaren executed strongly under intense pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cVerstappen and Red Bull had one or two tenths more than us today. So fair enough that they are in pole position,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201c[I\u2019m] happy with the performance, I think Oscar and Lando managed to extract what was available in the car today.\u201d<\/p>\n Crucially, Stella views the grid outcome as leaving McLaren in control of its own destiny.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s in our hands, but we need to deliver tomorrow,\u201d he said, adding that execution rather than raw speed is likely to decide the championship.<\/p>\n McLaren CEO Zak Brown echoed that sentiment, forecasting a dramatic title showdown between the three contenders.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely game on,\u201d he told Viaplay.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be an epic race tomorrow. Top three guys in the championship, one, two and three on the grid.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown said he was unsurprised by Verstappen\u2019s late surge despite a scruffy practice day.<\/p>\n \u201cNot shocked, but yeah, he didn\u2019t show his hand\u2026 he\u2019s a four-time world champion, so when he needed to put the lap time down, he did.\u201d<\/p>\n Even so, Brown feels McLaren are in the mix and capable of delivering the required performance.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see what the race brings tomorrow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Verstappen pips McLarens to Abu Dhabi pole in title decider<\/a><\/p>\n
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