Oscar Piastri has firmly claimed he is "ready" to handle the pressure of the F1 title fight as the race tightens.
Piastri currently holds a 25-point lead over team-mate Lando Norris, having seen this trimmed from 31 following his DNF in Azerbaijan, with Max Verstappen also a contender, but is 69 points behind.
Both Piastri and Norris are in their first proper challenges for the F1 title, with Piastri generally regarded as the mentally stronger of the two, given Norris's fierce self-criticism after mistakes in qualifying earlier in the year.
As the fight ramps up, Piastri believes his experience of winning titles in junior categories, such as FIA F2 and FIA F3, will come in handy.
"The intensity will kind of naturally increase as we get closer to the end of the year, and I'm ready for that," Piastri told media, including RacingNews365.
"I've been in this position before in other championships, and that kind of feeling and that countdown to the end of the year are the same.
"So I am ready for that, and I can lean on Mark [Webber], but it is ultimately down to how I manage it, how I drive, and how I cope with things which are going to be coming.
"But having an important team around you and a good group of people around you is very important to be able to lean on, and Mark is certainly one of those people, and I'm excited to see how it goes."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix! Oscar Piastri's shock Baku crashes are a major talking point, as is whether Max Verstappen has drawn himself back into the F1 title fight.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
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