Champion: Oscar Piastri celebrates winning the Formula Two title alongside his team and father Chris (right). Photo: PREMA Racing (supplied)
Jubilation, relief and excitement.
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Those were just some of the many emotions that filled lounge rooms across Shepparton — and Australia — as motorsport wiz Oscar Piastri clinched the Formula Two Championship at the weekend.
Jubilation because of the extraordinary feat of becoming the first Aussie to take home the F2 crown; relief that the 20-year-old, with the weight of being championship leader, managed to close out his phenomenal season; and excitement for the path that lies ahead for the emerging star.
Piastri, who has strong family links to the Goulburn Valley, enjoyed another incredible weekend of racing, this time on the Abu Dhabi island circuit.
The moment: Oscar Piastri crosses the line as the 2021 Formula Two champion. Photo: PREMA Racing (supplied)
Fresh off his blitz in Saudi Arabia, Piastri had onlookers scratching their heads, asking themselves how it is he won’t be racing in F1 next year.
The F2 rookie rubber-stamped a mind-boggling fifth-straight pole position on Friday, equalling the efforts of Ferrari F1 star Charles Leclerc from 2017.
With a lead of 51.5 points before the season ending round, his efforts in qualifying sent his supporters into a fever pitch.
Those same fans did not expect their hero — and for proud grandparents in Shepparton, their grandson — to be crowned the champion on the penultimate day of racing.
Quick: Oscar Piastri in action around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Photo: PREMA Racing (supplied)
The Melbourne talent, starting from 10th on the grid, worked his magic in the reverse grid race to finish ahead of his PREMA Racing teammate and nearest rival Robert Shwartzman.
Focused: Oscar Piastri before qualifying. Photo: PREMA Racing (supplied)
Piastri’s third place finish was enough to widen the championship points gap which saw him become the first Australian to claim the F2 title and his third consecutive championship.
“It's been a good year, definitely. I didn't know if I could do it at the beginning of the year, because to be completely honest coming into Formula Two as a rookie is pretty difficult,” Piastri said to Formula2.com
“I think after the first couple of races my confidence grew, and I'm very happy to be champion.
“It's a massively proud moment for me, I think I'm the first one to win those three championships (Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula Three, Formula Two) in a row.”
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