Piastri already targeting ’25 championship after team triumph in Abu Dhabi

Pushing aside his “pretty miserable” season finale outing in Abu Dhabi, Oscar Piastri was full of pride as he discussed the emotions surrounding McLaren’s “incredible achievement” of winning its first constructors’ championship in over two decades.

Blasting music and spraying Champagne as the team celebrated team glory as well as Lando Norris’ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix domination, Piastri had no issue putting aside his tough evening in favour of McLaren’s all-night party, however, that was not before the Australian reflected on the final 58 laps of the season.

Putting his best foot forward to ear a front-row start alongside Norris, Piastri’s triumph was taken away from him at the first corner as an overambitious Max Verstappen came charging down the inside of Turn 1, wiping the Australian out before his race had even begun.

Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty for causing the collision, believing in the moment that he was simply “super unlucky” to have made such significant contact with Piastri.

Spinning to the very back of the pack after what he sarcastically coined the “move of a world champion”, Piastri was able to catch up to the rest of the field during the early Virtual Safety Car, however, misguiding Franco Colapinto’s braking pattern at the restart, the McLaren driver rear-ended the Williams, earning himself a 10-second penalty after he’d already been into the pits.

“For me, there was no overlap into the corner,” he explained.

“Max (Verstappen) came to apologise and the penalty speaks for itself so it is what it is. 

“Just very happy for the whole team and that is definitely the big thing today.”

The Australian added: “Obviously, at that point, I knew I needed to try and make my way back through and I knew it was going to be tough. 

“But once I had the coming together with Colapinto, that was pretty much the nail in the coffin for my race. 

“So, not the best way to end the season for myself, but for the team it obviously couldn’t have been any better.

“I will definitely ride the high of that and have a good off-season, like I am sure the rest of the team will, and make sure we come back strong next year.”

On the hard tyre, Piastri struggled to make his way through the field, and in particular, struggled to dispose of Fernando Alonso who managed to hold the Australian up until he was forced to make a second stop on Lap 33 when the #81 served his penalty before rejoining in P15.

His Aston Martin woes were, unfortunately, not over when Lance Stroll was tasked with holding up the McLaren driver in order to benefit the two-time world champion ahead.

By Lap 39, the Australian grew tired of staring at the green gearbox, picking off Stroll into Turn 6 before the adrenaline rush continued down the road to Turn 9, where Piastri passed his debutant compatriot Jack Doohan.

Prompting a reminder that the team, still fighting for the constructors’ championship against Ferrari, couldn’t take any risks, Piastri had a huge snap as he entered the hotel section, forced to drive across the extra tarmac at Turn 11 after losing his aerodynamic effects due to his extremely close proximity following Yuki Tsunoda. 

Targeting a P9 finish, Piastri and Tsunoda traded positions on the fringes of the points, with Piastri edging closer to his target with 10 laps to go, completing the move on the exit of Turn 9.

Engaging in a battle with Alex Albon for the final points-paying position, P10 was Piastri’s for the taking, a move he completed with his race-leading teammate in his mirrors threatening to lap him.

In that regard, the Australian held out to the finish line, adding one point to McLaren’s championship-winning total of 666 points, making it their first title since Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard led the team in 1998.

“Pretty miserable were the first few laps,” Piastri said.

“Turn 1 was what it was, and on the restart with Franco, I need to look at it back but think I just misjudged where everyone was going to brake. 

“There were a lot of moves going on towards the braking zone and I just got it wrong. 

“So yep, that set me up for a pretty tough race, but in the grand scheme of things, that doesn’t really matter at the moment, just very proud of the whole team and what we have been able to achieve this year.”

On his team’s incredible victory over Ferrari, Piastri said the magnitude of what he, Lando Norris and all the team members achieved will take a while to sink in, especially considering both drivers weren’t even alive the last time McLaren won the constructors’ championship.  

“I am sure it will take a little bit to sink in, as my own personal victories often take time to sink in, sometimes days or weeks later. I am sure this is going to be a similar thing,” he said.

“My ribs are healed up now, but I might stay away from Zak in case he hugs me pretty tight. 

“I am sure once I go back and see everybody, it will start to sink in, once we see everybody in the factory and see the smiles on everyone’s faces it will really start to sink in. 

“As drivers, obviously we have our eyes firmly set on becoming drivers’ world champions but it is also very clear how much the constructors’ championship means and when we get to celebrate that with the hundreds and thousands of people back at McLaren together with Mercedes HPP, that’s when it will really sink in and the sense of pride will be there.”

Truly worthy of the now-95 days of rest until the Australian Grand Prix weekend launches the 2025 season, Piastri says he will use the off-season as a period of reflection, ready to come back bigger and better as he targets “the next step” in the drivers’ championship.

“This season I feel like I made good steps forward, there is still room to go,” the #81 said. 

“The biggest one has been leaving a few too many positions on the table in qualifying.

“I don’t think I’ve ever really made life easy on myself in the races in that aspect. 

“So that’s the big focus of the off-season, trying to get those last hundredths, last tenths. 

“I feel like in all the other areas, I have been able to show what I’m capable of and also show that I have improved. 

“So again, now it is just putting everything together because the gaps now are very small, or non-existent, so if I can get it all together, then I will be on my way.”

Image: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images

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