The Australian won the 19-lap race around the Lusail circuit for the third year running with all his old calm and efficiency on Saturday, a confident return to form in his McLaren after six weekends in which he failed to make the podium in any race.
It meant he scored a maximum eight points, gaining two crucial points on teammate Lando Norris, the championship leader, who could only finish third behind George Russell's Mercedes.
Going into Saturday's qualifying for the main race, Piastri has now cut his deficit to Norris from 24 points to 22.
He's also moved three points clear of Max Verstappen in second place overall after Red Bull's champion, level on points with Piastri going into the race, could only finish fourth, rising two places from his grid start.
Piastri was always in control after getting off to a fine start, racing away from Russell, who was briefly challenged for second by Norris.Â
The championship leader himself had to hold off a first-lap charge from Yuki Tsunoda before the fare became hugely uneventful.
Piastri looked back to his early-season best which earned him seven Grand Prix wins as he found pace that no-one else could match, ending up nearly five seconds clear of Russell.
Norris, in second place, was 6.279 seconds behind the winner, with an increasingly confident-sounding Piastri telling his team over the radio: "Let's keep it going."
With 25 points for a victory and 18 for second, Norris can still clinch the title on Sunday if he triumphs, but Piastri will hope the momentum is finally with him again after topping every session so far - practice, sprint qualifying and the sprint itself.
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