Oscar Piastri shares 'do or die' F1 lesson as Lando Norris fight continues

Oscar Piastri has explained how he is reluctant to make his charge for a maiden F1 championship as a "do or die" mission. 

The Australian is into his third F1 season with McLaren, and is leading the drivers' standings by 22 points from team-mate Lando Norris with five wins from the 10 races so far.

Piastri has been regarded as the mentally stronger of the two McLaren drivers, with Norris also suffering the blow of crashing into Piastri and losing 12 points at the Canadian Grand Prix. 

Not since Sebastian Vettel in 2009 (his second full-time season) has a driver challenged for a world championship so early in their full-time career as Piastri, as he detailed his mindset to approaching the title race.

"For me, I am not looking at this as my one chance, and I don't think there is any use in putting extra pressure on yourself, and making things do or die," Piastri told media, including RacingNews365. 

"I am still very early in my career, and obviously, it is a great opportunity, but I'll just try and win as many races as I can, and hopefully, that makes the championship look quite good in the end. 

"For me, something I've learned through my junior career and first years of my F1 career is that you need time away from Formula 1, because otherwise, it can get pretty draining, pretty quickly.

"Now it is a slightly different situation for me in terms of fighting for a championship, and I've learned my lessons already on how I perform my best and how I come to each weekend fresh.

"I am enjoying the position we are in, it is fun trying to win races and fight for a championship and certainly at the moment, the pressure is not that different.

"I'm just trying to go out there and do my best, and now that looks like trying to fight for a win instead of trying to fight for a podium or for points."