Oscar Piastri has admitted he is more proud of the methods that have moved him to the top of the drivers' standings than the simple fact of being the championship leader.
The Australian has enjoyed a strong start to the current season, winning four out of the six grands prix staged so far.
He currently holds a 16-point lead in the drivers' championship over team-mate Lando Norris, whose sole win came at the season-opening event in Australia.
The Melbourne race marked Piastri's low point of the campaign as late-race rain derailed his event, leaving him in ninth.
Having been near-flawless since, Piastri voiced his satisfaction in being able to recuperate following his difficult home event.
"Winning the races is what is exciting at the moment,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.
"The championship lead is nice, but I said after Saudi, I'm much more proud and satisfied of the work and the reasons behind why I'm leading the championship than actually the fact that I am leading the championship.
“Especially given that Melbourne didn't go very well from a points point of view.
“It went well as far as execution goes, but considering I started with a bit of a deficit and I've pulled it back, I think that's kind of the part that I'm enjoying the most - it’s the reasons why we're leading the championship.”
Piastri's strong run of form has seen him win the last three races, making him the first McLaren driver since Mika Hakkinen in 1998 to emerge victorious in three consecutive grands prix.
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