Oscar Piastri responded to his doubters on Thursday by emphatically claiming that he remains confident he can recover form and win the drivers' world championship this year.
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The 24-year-old Australian, who lost the lead of the title race for the first time in six months when McLaren teammate Lando Norris won last month's Mexico City Grand Prix, said: "I've still got what it takes to win".
Speaking at Interlagos ahead of this weekend's potentially key Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Piastri –- who has been beaten by Norris at the last five events –- added: "People can think what they want to think, right?
"For me, I know that I've still got what it takes to win the championship. Yeah, there's been some bumps along the road, but there's been bumps along the road for everyone this year at different points.
"I'm confident that I've learnt a lot of helpful things from the last couple of weekends in particular and I'm confident as well that I can still perform at some of the heights of the success we've had this year.
"There's still a lot of laps to go and I'm very confident I can still win."
Piastri was 34 points ahead of Norris at the start of September, but has seen that advantage disappear with four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull romping through a successful run to reduce his 104-point deficit to 36.
After three wins in the last six races, the Dutchman is third and threatening, as several paddock observers have criticised Piastri's drop in form.
"A total collapse," said 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who questioned Piastri's ability to cope with the pressure of expectation.
Piastri, without a win in five races since the Dutch Grand Prix, knows he has to deliver a strong response to rekindle his hopes of becoming Australia's third champion and first since Alan Jones in 1980.
