Oscar Piastri has offered a defiant response to critics who say he can not handle the pressure of the Formula One title battle, insisting: "I know I've still got what it takes to win the championship."

The Australian's championship lead stood at a substantial 34 points after his Dutch Grand Prix triumph in Zandvoort at the end of August.

However, it finally evaporated five races later as McLaren teammate Lando Norris's runaway victory last time out in Mexico City moved him a point ahead in the title race.

The deterioration in the previously dominant Melburnian's form, without a podium in his last four outings, has led to all sorts of barbs aimed at Piastri and the team, with former world champ Jacques Villeneuve labelling it a "total collapse".

"It is due to the effect of the pressur

See Full Page