Regardless of having fractionally missed out on his maiden F1 title, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri reckons that his team-mate Lando Norris is “a really deserving winner.”
Ranging from the second place on the grid, Lando Norris managed to maintain his place, albeit his team-mate overtook him in a while throughout the opening lap with a sensational transfer.
The Australian began on Pirelli’s onerous tyres, and stayed out for an extended first stint, finishing a one-stop technique whereas his direct rivals elected to cowl the race distance by pitting twice.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc displayed an unexpectedly robust race efficiency on the Yas Marina Circuit, holding Norris trustworthy, however the McLaren driver at all times had one thing in reserve when the hole began to cut back. The Briton in the end completed third which was sufficient for him to fractionally beat Verstappen, sealing his maiden world championship title in Abu Dhabi.
Piastri was unable to place Verstappen beneath stress along with his one-stop technique, and barely struggled along with his medium tyres throughout his lengthy second stint, however it was nonetheless sufficient for him to finish a season on a excessive with a second-place end.
Pushed on to mirror on his season, Piastri defined that he has “realized a hell of so much about myself” by the troublesome moments.
“I imply, I believe, clearly, I might have wished for a barely completely different ending, however I believe this 12 months I’ve realized a hell of so much about myself as a race automotive driver, myself as an individual.
“I believe if you happen to had introduced this season in the beginning of the 12 months with the pole positions and the wins and the podiums, I positively would have been fairly proud of that.
“And I believe even within the robust moments, I’ve realized so much about myself and the way I could be stronger sooner or later. So, I believe, in the end, there’s a bit little bit of disappointment, clearly, however I believe I could be very happy with the season I’ve had and loads of classes to take to the longer term.
Requested to share his ideas on his team-mate Lando Norris’ efficiency and the job he’s finished this 12 months to be world champion, Piastri claimed that the Briton is a “very deserving winner.”
“I believe a really deserving winner. I do know that each weekend I’m going on observe, it’s going to be robust. And I believe we’ve pushed one another by the final three years.
“I believe particularly this season has been tighter than ever. So, yeah, I believe he’s had an awesome season. In all probability all three of us, however clearly, myself and Lando in the identical group, in the identical automotive, have had our ups and downs at completely different moments. In the end, I believe he’s had an excellent season and a deserving champion.”
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