Oscar Piastri is aiming high after clinching a front-row start in Monaco, while teammate Lando Norris celebrates their “better than expected” qualifying success.
Oscar Piastri has his sights set on maximizing his impressive P2 grid position at the Monaco Grand Prix, after narrowly missing out on pole to local hero Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc showcased dominant pace throughout Friday and Saturday’s practice sessions. In contrast, McLaren had a quieter start to the weekend in Monte Carlo, with the team unsure of their qualifying prospects. However, Piastri displayed strong form from Q1, carrying this momentum into Q3 to secure second place, just under two-tenths shy of Leclerc’s P1.
Reflecting on his near-miss for pole, the Australian driver, sporting McLaren’s special Ayrton Senna-inspired livery, remarked, “If you combined the second half of my first lap in Q3 and the first half of my second, it would have been enough. A couple of mistakes at the end, but credit to Charles – he’s been incredibly quick all weekend.”
Piastri emphasized the importance of a good start and strategic prowess to challenge Leclerc on race day. “A good start always helps. If you can get into the lead, you can control it very easily around here,” he explained. “Overtaking is tough in Monaco, so starting from a good spot gives us a chance for a good day tomorrow.”
Lando Norris, Piastri’s teammate, will start in fourth. Despite a tense Q1 filled with debris and stickers on the track, Norris recovered well. “I’m happy with fourth in the end,” said Norris. “Q1 was stressful, but I made good progress in Q2 and Q3. Oscar did a very good job, so hats off to him. As a team, to be second and fourth is better than we expected.”
Regarding his chances for a podium finish, Norris acknowledged the challenges. “Pure pace alone won’t be enough. We’ll need a good strategy or a strong start. We’ll give our best and see what we can achieve.”
As McLaren gears up for the Monaco Grand Prix, both drivers are poised to make the most of their strong qualifying positions, eyeing a potential upset on the iconic street circuit.
