Piastri departed from pole after topping Saturday’s dash shootout, however having began on mediums the Australian was handed by the tender tyre-shod Mercedes of George Russell on a lap three restart.
However whereas the softs proved a useful benefit on the restarts, the extra sturdy medium compound was clearly the way in which to go over the 19-lap contest.
On lap 10 Piastri duly swept previous Russell to retake the lead, with solely fellow medium runner Max Verstappen a menace within the latter levels.
Afterwards Piastri felt the protection automotive interruptions had been essential in serving to him fend off Verstappen, who had misplaced positions on a poor first lap however got here again to complete second and clinch his third straight world title.
“A really hectic race,” Piastri stated. “Once I noticed all of the tender guys come by firstly, I believed we had been in a little bit of hassle after which their tyres fell off fairly shortly.
“The protection vehicles had been my pal right now, undoubtedly, as soon as Max bought behind me.
“However the tempo was affordable and, in a race the place you needed to handle so much the tyres and vehicles on different compounds, I believe we did a extremely good job, so we’re very completely satisfied.
“As soon as [Max] bought by into second I believed I used to be going to be in a little bit of hassle, however the tempo was good and I managed the tyres effectively.
“A primary dash win sounds fairly cool.”
Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Formulation 1, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 2nd place and 2023 drivers world champion, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 1st place, Lando Norris, McLaren, third place, Mohammed bin Sulayem, President, FIA
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
His team-mate Lando Norris was additionally shuffled again firstly from second on the grid, however equally battled his approach again into rivalry because the medium tyres helped him safe a podium, snatching third from Russell on the ultimate lap.
“Oscar has accomplished a mega job, he is had a faultless weekend,” Norris added.
“I made a number of errors and he hasn’t. He is capitalised and he is accomplished a greater job, so simply hats off to him. For our staff it has been a mega day.
“A troublesome race for me. A foul begin made the whole lot a lot trickier, however I fought again effectively, some enjoyable racing, good overtakes, all the way in which until the final lap on George.
“The softs clearly had been so much higher for lap one and the opening levels, however they had been fortunate there have been so many security vehicles.
“If there hadn’t been so many security vehicles, I believe simply the medium would have been a better option.”