Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Disastrous US Grand Prix sprint hinders Piastri's championship hopes
SEN • October 19th, 2025 12:40 pm
Oscar Piastri’s championship charge has taken a hit at the US Grand Prix, with a collision on the first corner of the sprint race in Austin cutting the Australian’s race short.
Starting in P3, Piastri had the better of the jump, charging down McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the outside as the pair approached Turn 1, cutting in towards the apex in attempt to gain position on his championship rival.
Pulling down the inside, Piastri clipped the front right tyre of Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber, lifting the Australian’s McLaren from his rear left side and sending him directly into teammate Norris.
The incident ruled out both Norris and Piastri in what was a chaotic start to the sprint format.
"For me, it is a racing incident," he said.
"I was a long way from the apex, and I think the cars behind were going pretty deep into the corner, so could I have done something different? Maybe, yes.
"But that different thing would have been to potentially let two or three cars go by.
"I just can't drive around the outside of the track and let everyone use up all the space, so I think (calling) it a racing incident is fair."
Championship rival Max Verstappen went on to claim victory in the sprint, rewarding the Red Bull with an incredibly valuable eight points in context of the championship.
Heading into the US Grand Prix, Piastri (336 points) holds a 22-point lead on teammate Norris (314) atop the Drivers' Championship, while Verstappen remains well and truly in the mix with 281 points, 55 behind the leader.
Piastri will start the GP from sixth after a disappointing qualification, with Verstappen, Norris and Charles Leclerc leading the line in the 19th race of the 2025 season.
