McLaren Boss Says Oscar Piastri Can Still Win F1 Title Despite Qatar Setback
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has moved to reassure Oscar Piastri that his Formula One title hopes remain alive despite a costly strategic error that denied the Australian a victory in Qatar. Stella said past examples in the sport show that drivers can still become world champions even when they enter the final weekend in third place.
Piastri delivered one of the strongest performances of his career at the Lusail circuit. He took pole position for the sprint race on Saturday and converted it into a commanding win, reinforcing expectations that he could repeat the result in Sunday’s grand prix. Starting from pole again, he controlled the early stages of the race and appeared set for a breakthrough victory that would have tightened the championship contest.
However, a misjudged call from the McLaren pit wall changed the outcome. A strategic decision that did not match the evolving track conditions dropped Piastri from a winning position and opened the door for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to move ahead. Piastri eventually finished second, a result that left him visibly stunned as he tried to make sense of the team error. He admitted he was speechless and called the moment difficult to accept after leading comfortably earlier in the race.
McLaren issued a swift apology to the Australian, acknowledging that the mistake had undermined a weekend in which Piastri had shown exceptional pace and composure. The error also affected the championship standings. Instead of closing the gap at the top, Piastri remains third overall, now 16 points behind teammate Lando Norris, who crossed the line in fourth. With only one race weekend left, the margin means Piastri will need both a strong final performance and favourable results elsewhere to claim a maiden Formula One world title.
Despite the setback, Stella urged the young driver to maintain confidence, noting that championship battles have often shifted dramatically in the final stages of a season. He reminded Piastri that several Formula One title winners had been in similar positions, entering the last race or last few rounds in third place before staging a comeback. Stella pointed out that the team believes strongly in Piastri’s ability to handle pressure and recover quickly, describing him as mature, disciplined, and focused.
The McLaren boss also emphasised that the team must learn from the mistake and provide Piastri with the full support needed for the final race. He said the priority is to give both Piastri and Norris the best possible machinery and decision making so the championship is decided by performance rather than strategy errors.
With one weekend left and multiple scenarios still possible, Stella said the team remains determined to fight until the final lap. For Piastri, the Qatar disappointment may prove to be only one chapter in a title battle that is not yet finished.
