Piastri dismisses Norris concerns and looks to target Verstappen and Russell

October 4, 2025

in Formula 1

Reading Time: 3 mins read

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Oscar Piastri has shared his thoughts following his outing at the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying. The McLaren driver also shed light on his approach for the race as the title battle continues to heat up.

I want to maximise the race I can get because any extra points I can win are only going to help me.

– Oscar Piastri

Piastri, who will start the Singapore GP in P3, currently holds a 25-point advantage over title rival and McLaren teammate Lando Norris, and is 69 points ahead of Max Verstappen.

Speaking after qualifying, the Australian driver was quick to shut down speculation on his target for Sunday’s race being reduced to simply finishing ahead of Norris.

He said: “No. I think tomorrow’s race is just all about trying to do the best I can. There are a lot of things that can happen around here.”

Emphasising the unpredictable races the unforgiving Singaporean street track produces, Piastri assured he would be adopting an attacking approach at lights out tomorrow.

“It’s a tough race — Safety Cars and stuff like that. So, I’ll do the best that I can. Obviously, if there’s an opportunity to finish higher than I’m starting, then I’ll try and take it. I’m not just going to settle for the position I’m in or any position just ahead of Lando.

Oscar Piastri during FP2 of the Singapore GP – Race Pictures

“I want to maximise the race I can get because any extra points I can win are only going to help me. So, just try and do the best job I can and see where we end up.”

During the 2024 edition of the Singapore Grand Prix, Piastri started the race in fifth place and ended on the podium with a third place behind Norris and Verstappen. The 24-year-old will aim to make similar progress from his third-place start when the lights go out on Sunday.

Piastri admits Verstappen is McLaren’s biggest threat

Earlier during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Piastri declared that Verstappen would be the McLaren team’s biggest challenger in Singapore. The Australian, however, dismissed being fussed by the threat the Red Bull Racing driver might pose to his title hopes.

The last two Grand Prixs have witnessed Verstappen cut the lead of Piastri atop the championship to 69 points. The Dutch driver reaped maximum points in both Monza and Baku and again recorded an impressive qualifying during the Singapore Grand Prix.

The words of Piastri also mirror that of McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, who labelled Verstappen as a disruptor in the drivers’ championship fight.

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