Is Piastri outgrowing Norris? 'I've taken a bit of a step up'

Before the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, Piastri was asked if his winter hard work was paying off and if we would continue seeing him on the podium.

He said, “I sure hope so. The hard work we've been putting in definitely has been making a difference. I've felt comfortable in qualifying and felt like I've taken a bit of a step up.”

Last year it was Norris who was fighting against Verstappen, but now it’s both of them.

Piastri explained, “Last year it wasn't much that I often missed out by, but this year I've had a couple of qualifyings just on the wrong side of that gap, still, but also more qualifyings on the right side of that gap now. So it's been a lot of hard work in a lot of different areas trying to get those last few hundredths of a second, and I think it has been paying off.” 

Piastri is highly regarded for his calmness, which many think helps his “winner mentality.” But does it help him?

He said, “I definitely think it does. I think for everyone, they kind of work in different ways. For me, trying to stay calm is a very important thing, and it helps me get the best out of myself. That's how I operate the best, and it's been working so far.”