Photo: Race Pictures

Piastri handed strong confidence boost despite burning title defeat

12:32, 22 Dec

byTobia Elia

Guenther Steiner believes Oscar Piastri has everything it takes to bounce back from the world championship defeat suffered in the season just gone.

“He needs to be in the right car at the right time, but from a talent point of view, he can do it. I don’t doubt it.”

- Guenther Steiner

After leading the championship in imperious fashion for two-thirds of the season, the Australian suffered a bitter blow by finishing the year only third overall — even behind Max Verstappen — as his team-mate went on to claim the title.

Even so, the former Haas boss has no doubts about the Australian’s qualities, making his stance clear while speaking on the Red Flags podcast: “He needs to be in the right car at the right time, but from a talent point of view, he can do it. I don’t doubt it.

“If he has the same scenario he had this year, I think he will win it next time, because we should never forget it was only his second (actually third) — season in Formula 1. He did very well.”

Photo: Race Pictures.

Why Piastri still has plenty to smile about despite missing out on title

The past season offered the Aussie a brutal but valuable lesson in what it really takes to contend for a Formula 1 world title, exposing him to a level of pressure far removed from anything experienced in the junior ranks — and one that ultimately proved difficult to sustain until the very end.

Even so, his place in the championship fight was no accident. It was the product of a remarkable leap forward compared to the previous year, when he had been soundly outmatched by Norris over the course of the season.

Here's is a brief recap of his rise from his Formula 1 debut to where he stands today.

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