Piastri blames himself for 'silly error' on opening lap crash / Photo: Ozan KOSE - AFP
-
Alexander Skarsgard and his viral 'Wicker' transformation
-
Brazil's Andrade returns to take vault gold at worlds
-
Thousands protest in Turkey over journalists' arrests, media shutdowns
-
Lula, Bolsonaro hold final rallies ahead of Brazil election
-
Man City beaten by Aston Villa to end perfect Premier League start
-
Ukraine has 'stable connection' to Starlink: govt
-
Luis Enrique says PSG unbothered by Lyon match switch
-
French protests kick off amid heavy security blanket
-
US gymnast Richard wins floor exercise gold at worlds
-
250,000 rally in Madrid demanding state pension guarantees
-
Moltzan upstages Shiffrin to win season-opening World Cup giant slalom
-
UK police says 'claims' over Meghan Markle's dad not sent to other law enforcement
-
Infantino says backed by 'vast majority' in bid for re-election
-
Top-ranked Rybakina to face Fernandez for Ningbo title
-
Police fire tear gas as new French protests kick off
-
Late India charge seals thrilling second T20 win over New Zealand
-
Police fire tear gas as new French demonstrations kick off
-
Seen and heard at France protests
-
Tropical Storm Champi nears China after battering Taiwan, Japan
-
White says Fiji can have 'massive' World Cup after beating Japan
-
'Weeks, not days' in Kompany recovery, say Bayern
-
England thrash France 82-0 to keep Rugby League World Cup hopes alive
-
Unfair to compare us to Barca: Real Madrid's Mourinho
-
Security high as France braces for new protests
-
North Korea's Kim makes unannounced visit to Chinese border city
-
White makes winning start as Fiji edge Eddie Jones's Japan
-
Fire breaks out at Hitler's mountain retreat, suspect arrested
-
Lula, Bolsonaro strike calmer tone in final Brazil election debate
-
Marc Marquez wins Australian sprint as Martin crashes out
-
'How is it possible?': Students protest Indonesian haze
-
North Korea's Kim calls for training world's 'strongest' military
-
Israel launches major West Bank operation after soldiers killed
-
Brewers edge Rays to capture World Series opener
-
Typhoon Champi knocks out power to thousands in Taiwan
-
France to deploy 70,000 police for fresh weekend protests
-
As Israeli election nears, campaign turns ugly
-
Tatum delivers as Celtics down winless Knicks
-
Oscar hopeful 'La Bola Negra' offers lessons about communicating, directors say
-
Romantasy fans ready for sleepless night as 'Court of Thorns and Roses' returns
-
Trapped: Soaring fuel costs hurt Maine lobster industry before midterms
-
De Goede hat-trick as Canada defeat England again
-
Marc Marquez beats brother Alex to Australian MotoGP pole
-
Rubio urges Cubans to work with CIA, but warns: be discreet
-
Ebola vaccine trial begins in DR Congo
-
Leclerc tops times for Ferrari in practice for US Grand Prix
-
Travelling man Wade equals Prem try record
-
Lula, Bolsonaro lock horns in final debate before Brazil vote
-
Rescuers search for seven people in Nairobi building collapse
-
Poulter and Hatton leave LIV Golf
-
Sacha Baron Cohen revives the 'problematic dinosaur' Ali G in new film
Piastri blames himself for 'silly error' on opening lap crash
Oscar Piastri said he blamed himself for committing a 'silly error' when he crashed out on the opening lap of Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix as McLaren missed out on a chance to clinch a second straight teams’ title.
The series-leading 24-year-old Australian locked up and hit the barriers at Turn Six, ending his run of 34 races in the points, before Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass to claim his second win in a row.
With team-mate and title rival Lando Norris battling home seventh, Piastri’s McLaren team were unable to beat Ferrari by nine points to secure their 10th Constructors' Championship.
"That was not my finest moment," he admitted.
"I just anticipated the start too much and then I made a silly, simple error and crashed. I didn’t anticipate the dirty air as I should have done and going into the corner I was too hot.
"I am not blaming anything or anybody but myself. I didn't make the judgement calls I needed to at the right times."
Piastri's crash handed Norris the perfect chance to trim his 31-points lead in the title race, but he was unable to exploit the opportunity fully.
He took just six points to reduce his deficit to 25 points with seven races remaining.
"I did my best but really every race is an opportunity missed," said Norris, talking to Sky Sports F1.
"I lost it yesterday in qualifying when I went early, had a bad lap and lost a couple of positions."
He said he did not know what had happened to Piastri, who had been supremely consistent and reliable this season, before Sunday’s crash.
"I dont know what happened," he said. "Oscar is an incredible driver but I focus on myself. People just dont understand how easy it is to make mistakes in these cars."
McLaren team chief Andrea Stella said it had been a difficult weekend.
"Today we made it worse with the crash and the somewhat uncharacteristic mistakes from Oscar," he said.
"I hope we have collected them all here in this event.
"He is probably the most solid and consistent driver so we hope this has been a one-off.
"Lando did not have a fast enough car to get through the field so now have to just re-set and go again in Singapore."
I.Yassin--SF-PST
