Oscar Piastri voices crucial concern ahead of last-gasp F1 title bid

Oscar Piastri has admitted he does not have major confidence in his long run pace ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Piastri will start the race from third on the grid, behind his title rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.

Norris currently holds a 16-point lead over Piastri in the drivers' standings, with the Australian facing an uphill battle on Sunday if he wishes to walk away with the title in hand.

Having already acknowledged that he needs an element of luck in order to come out of Sunday's race as the champion, Piastri's task is made more difficult by the fact that he doesn't see his race pace as anything extraordinary.

“I've not done that much long running, obviously only FP2, but it looked okay without being anything spectacular,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.

“I would have loved the long runs to have gone a bit better, but we're here now, and we'll see how the conditions and the track evolve.

“From where I'm sat, I need things to happen in the race to win the championship. So, I’ll wait and see if those things happen.”

With Norris in a strong position to seal a maiden title on Sunday, such a scenario would see split emotions in the McLaren garage.

But Piastri stated there would be no expectation for either driver to have muted celebrations out of courtesy for their team-mate.

“One of us could win our first championship in F1 - you’re obviously going to celebrate that,” he said. 

“I think we've got more than enough respect between each other to appreciate the work of the person that loses tomorrow, and there’s going to be nothing but respect either way. 

“Also, whoever's on the losing side – it would be unfair to expect the person who’s won to not celebrate.

“So, I don’t think you need any conversations. I think we’re adults and got enough respect between us to know what’s right.”