With two rounds still to come in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix isn’t the end of the 2025 F1 season.
But, realistically, it’s the last chance for Oscar Piastri to turn around his fading F1 Drivers’ World Championship hopes.
It’s time to roll the dice.
Having watched his once-commanding championship lead evaporate since the end of August through a mix of bad luck, lost confidence and questionable decisions (from both driver and team), the 24-year-old from Melbourne now trails his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 24 points.
Given a Grand Prix victory is worth 25 points, the stakes are high and the margins for error minuscule.
MORE: F1 standings 2025: Driver and constructor points
With just two races and one sprint left after this weekend, the maximum points available to Piastri will be down to just 58.
Put simply, it means another poor return in Nevada and the gap to Norris will likely be insurmountable, consigning Piastri to a 2025 season of what might have been.
There’s no question the late-season momentum is with Norris, who sits firmly in the drivers’ seat for the championship having won the last two grand prix in Brazil and Austin—in fact, Piastri hasn’t finished ahead of the Brit since the Dutch Grand Prix back on August 31.
It really is now or never for McLaren’s #81.
Piastri receives Don Award for 2025
In one piece of good news leading into Las Vegas, Piastri has been recognised with the prestigious Don Award for 2025—named after Sir Donald Bradman and awarded by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in recognition of the sporting achievement which has most inspired the people of Australia each year.
The selection committee was chaired by legendary sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney who explained Piastri was an obvious choice for 2025, becoming the first athlete from motorsport to receive the honour.
“Every year we experience remarkable sporting moments and stories and the most compelling in 2025 has been 24-year-old Oscar Piastri, his rise across the past 12 months to become one of the most formidable and exciting drivers in F1, is nothing short of outstanding,” McAvaney said.
For his part, Piastri said he was delighted and humbled to receive the award.
“Winning an award in the name of Sir Donald Bradman is a massive privilege, everyone in Australia knows exactly what he represented and the legacy he has in Australian sport, so it’s not lost on me how major this award is,” Piastri said.
“It’s always an amazing feeling to represent our country on the world stage and do well for ourselves.”
The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix starts at 8pm local time on Saturday November 22 (3pm Sunday AEDT).