Oscar Piastri may have fallen short in his bid to become a Formula 1 world champion, but he has earned plenty of admirers this season, with many tipping him to be a future world champion.
Piastri needed a win and for his rivals, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, to have bad weekends at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi to have any chance of him claiming the title.
And although he managed to lead the race due to a gusty one-stop strategy call and a brilliant overtaking move over his teammate on lap one, he was unable to last the distance, finishing second to Verstappen, missing out on the title by just 13 points.
Even had Piastri won, teammate Norris was able to claim the podium spot he needed to win his first drivers' championship title.
"I think today yes [I can be satisfied]," Piastri said on Fox Sports.
"We gave it everything. We tried a bit of a gamble on strategy and tried absolutely everything to try and win the race and give ourselves the best chance to win a championship.
It didn't happen for him this year, but it seems the entire paddock believes that it is only a matter of time before Piastri claims a title of his own — especially his McLaren bosses.
Principle engineer Andrea Stella was full of praise for the 24-year-old Australian, saying the team could have had "two champions this year".
"The gap between the two was so small," Stella said.
"Oscar was a worthwhile champion. He learned so rapidly. His trajectory is phenomenal and no doubt we have a future multiple world champion.
"I'm just so proud being proud [being a member] of the team, is my main feeling at the moment. Being proud of everyone, and everyone responded to the call this season and the call to elevate the game compared to last season.
"The demand has been huge; two drivers in the contest and trying to do it the McLaren way, trying to be fair and respectful. It has been a lot of work.
"The team has been so united, even with bumps in the road."
Commentator and former driver Martin Brundle was clear that Piastri had all the tools to become one of the best, while former world champion Nico Rosberg said the Australian had a "superpower" that made him so impressive.
"His superpower is his mental strength. He's so level headed," the 2016 world champion said.
"There's no reason why Oscar can't turn it around next year."
McLaren boss Zak Brown agreed.
"Both our guys won seven races, drove brilliantly, they supported each other," he said.
"It's a cruel sport how some things don't go your way when they're out of your control, but I'm excited to go racing with him [Piastri]."
Even his teammate Norris, who said Piastri had made him dig "deeper than ever before", acknowledged it would not be long before Piastri would overhaul him.
"I don't think people understand how difficult it can be — as people have proven in the past — having teammates fighting for a world championship," Norris said.
"For Zak [Brown] and Andrea [Stella] to have control over those things, it's certainly tougher than just having one car.
"We take points off of each other, we make our lives harder, strategies more difficult, but the team would always take that over only having one car performing for a world championship.
"I have to give congrats to Oscar because he's driven incredibly.
"I'm glad I've had Oscar for the last three years because, even though he's a lot newer to it than me, I've learned a lot from him and he showed me up so many times and I've managed to learn a lot from him, and I wouldn't be the driver I am today without that.
"He's made me have to dig even deeper than I ever have before.
"By the mid-point of the season he was performing better than I was and doing a better job consistently.
"At some point he's going to get the better of me because he's an incredible driver.
"I've enjoyed it, I've learned a lot.
"Sadly, I've got a lot more seasons with him in the future so I look forward to those tough moments as well."
Piastri also credited his teammate for making him a better driver and said that although he did not enjoy every moment of the season, he can't wait to resume battle next year.
"It's been a fun challenge. Obviously at certain points maybe it doesn't feel that fun," Piastri said of the season-long battle with Norris.
"I think it's been a really enjoyable season for both of us probably — and I'm saying that as the person who's not champion.
"There's plenty more years to come of intense weekends and tight battles. I think it's made both of us better drivers."
And as for the future?
"I've learned a lot of lessons on dealing with tough moments [this year]," Piastri said.
"Ultimately I've learned a lot about myself."
