Oscar Piastri struggles for words after 'tough to swallow' McLaren mistake

Oscar Piastri struggled for words after a "tough to swallow" McLaren mistake cost him victory in the Qatar Grand Prix. 

Piastri started from pole position and led the opening stages with ease; however, a safety car on the seventh lap turned the race upside down. 

Every driver pitted except both McLarens, with the Woking-based squad having been left surprised by the entire field stopping. 

This hurt both Piastri and Lando Norris, as the duo emerged behind Max Verstappen after both of their two pit stops in what was a race where each tyre set could only complete 25 laps. 

After his second stop, Piastri rejoined in second but too far behind Verstappen to catch the four-time world champion. 

As a result of finishing second, he sits 16 points behind Norris going into the season finale, due to the Briton securing fourth.

Speaking after the race, Piastri was almost speechless when asked if McLaren made a mistake deciding not to pit during the safety car. 

"Yeah, clearly we didn't get it right tonight," said Piastri. "I drove the best race that I could, as fast as I could, and yeah, there was nothing left out there. So tried my best, but wasn't to be tonight."

Asked if he should have been called to pit when the safety car was called, Piastri responded: "I think in hindsight, it's pretty obvious what we would have done, but I'm sure we'll discuss it as a team."

With Verstappen claiming the win, Piastri has fallen to third in the standings. Had the McLaren driver won with Norris in second, he would have been 15 points behind. 

Discussing the title still being possible, he said: "Yeah, it's not all bad. Obviously, it's been a really good weekend. The pace has been very strong, but yeah, obviously a little bit tough to swallow at the moment."