17 hours ago
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We all know Australians are fiercely loyal to their sporting stars – and now one of the country's leading politicians has gone overboard by discussing the scandal surrounding Oscar Piastri on the taxpayers' dollar.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan gave the Aussie F1 star's disrupted title challenge some air time during a parliamentary hearing on Monday.
Canavan asked whether Piastri's McLaren team are costing the Aussie the world championship during a Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee hearing.
He posed his lighthearted question to department secretary Jim Betts.
'I don't know who to ask this, but you (Betts) deal with transport and cars, so do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri, and costing him the world championship?' he asked.
Canavan's colleagues then broke into a fit of laughter before Betts could respond.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan (pictured) decided to pose a question about Aussie F1 star Oscar Piastri at a parliamentary hearing on Monday
Regional Affairs Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm (pictured) leaped to Piastri's defence
The Aussie racing star (pictured) was the favourite to claim the F1 world championship for the majority of the 2025 season - but now finds himself third in the standings
But when Betts didn't really give much away in his response, Canavan looked over to Regional Affairs Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm.
'What about you, minister?' Canavan asked.
'I definitely think he's copped some raw decisions this year,' Chisholm replied.
It comes as the McLaren driver's championship challenge suffered yet another blow when he failed to convert his pole position to victory at the Qatar Grand Prix.
McLaren team bosses have come under fire for what many fans are calling a 'stupid' pitstop strategy decision that they believe was made to favour Piastri's teammate Lando Norris.
The Aussie managed to finish second behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Norris was able to recover to fourth after overtaking Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli on the final lap.
The result has left Piastri third on the championship table, four points behind Verstappen, and 16 behind Norris.
Piastri's teammate Lando Norris (pictured) is in the box seat to win his maiden championship in the UAE capital
McLaren team boss Zak Brown (pictured) has come under fire for his treatment of Piastri - and been accused of favouring Lando Norris by angry fans
Red Bull's Max Verstappen (pictured) has come from nowhere to remain in contention for a potential fifth consecutive world title
The numbers mean it is all to play for this Monday morning, Australian time, at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Norris, Verstappen and Piastri will do battle in a championship decider under the lights in the UAE capital.
For Piastri, the path to championship victory is most difficult of the three contenders.
The Aussie must finish in the top two in order to have any chance.
If he wins the grand prix, he needs Lando Norris to finish sixth or worse.
But if he comes second, he'd need Verstappen to finish fourth or worse, and Norris to finish ninth or worse.
For the flying Dutchman to take the title, he needs to win the grand prix, and Norris to finish fourth or worse.
The Red Bull driver would then claim the championship no matter where the Aussie ends up.
Norris has the easiest road to becoming champion: win the grand prix and the title is his.
