McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has stated that Oscar Piastri needs to muster up the "will to win" in the final two rounds of the F1 season.
The 24-year-old still trails Lando Norris by 24 points following their double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The pair are vying for their maiden F1 drivers' championship with only the trips to Qatar, which is a sprint weekend, and Abu Dhabi left to go.
However, Max Verstappen is now on equal points with Piastri after winning in Sin City, adding further jeopardy to the increasingly tense situation.
The Australian — and the Red Bull driver — must outscore Norris by two points across the sprint and grand prix next weekend to keep the fight alive into the campaign finale.
Prior to their exclusion, 30 points separated the McLaren pair, with the Dutchman a further 12 points adrift.
When asked for his view on the title battle, before his two drivers were disqualified in Nevada, Stella underlined that it is not over until it is over, telling Sky Sports F1: "My view is that mathematics is what counts."
However, the Italian had a clear message for Piastri, imploring the nine-time grand prix winner to add to his tally for the first time since the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
"Oscar needs to go into the final two races with the will to win them and take it from there," the 54-year-old added.
Stella was quick to point out that, regardless of what happens and seemingly unaware of what was about to transpire, that the year is poised for a "very exciting and interesting" conclusion.
"It's still a very exciting and interesting finale of the season," the McLaren boss said at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
"Max, Lando, Oscar and everyone will go into the next race thinking they need to win and see what happens."
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