“Second isn’t bad,” Oscar Piastri aims to win the Italian GP from P2 after McLaren lock out the front row
Oscar Piastri qualified in second place just +0.109 seconds behind his teammate Lando Norris.
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Oscar Piastri (via IMAGO)
McLaren has been on a roll ever since the team introduced a new upgrade package in Miami. This catapulted them in the constructor’s standings and they are now a championship threat to Red Bull. Their prowess was witnessed during the qualifying for the Italian GP as Lando Norris claimed pole and Oscar Piastri qualified P2. On the other hand, the Aussie claims that a front-row start for him is not bad as he sets his eyes on winning the Italian GP.
Since the start of the 2024 season, the intra-team dynamics at McLaren have been titled towards Lando Norris. On the contrary, Oscar Piastri has been slowly catching up to his senior teammate and has been the more consistent driver between the two. Moreover, he has been close to Norris during the Monza practice sessions and was a strong contender for pole.
However, the Aussie was pipped by a single tenth in the Q3 shootout.
Starting a bit further up the front compared to last year is good for myself. Let's see what the tyres do. It's a long run to turn 1, so starting second isn't bad.Oscar Piastri said in the post-qualifying interview
Despite this, Piastri claimed it was an improvement from his P7 qualifying last year. He then glanced over how the tires might work out during the race as the track has been resurfaced. The Australian further explained that he would be utilizing the slipstream towards the run to turn one and make a bid for the lead which could translate into a victory down the line.
Would Oscar Piastri be forced to follow team orders if he pounces past Lando Norris?
Norris currently trails Max Verstappen by 70 points in the drivers’ standings. Though the gap might seem unsurmountable in a normal season, Verstappen and Red Bull have been battling the RB20 in recent times. Moreover, with the Dutchman qualifying down in P7, a debate inside the paddock has raged on whether is it the right time to assert driver roles within McLaren.
After the qualifying session at Monza, Zak Brown retained secrecy around the pressing issue.
Now how we see things play out, we will do things behind closed doors.Zak Brown said in a post-qualifying interview
The American asserted that the team would formulate plans and hold meetings to ensure that both drivers were on the same page. While Brown remained secretive about sharing the details, fans speculate that if the British driver leads into turn one, Piastri would be instructed to act as a buffer between Norris and the chasing pack.
On the other hand, McLaren has been working hard to improve its position in the constructor’s standings. Moreover, their hard work could pay off tomorrow if the English team scores a 1-2. The Woking-based outfit could overtake Red Bull in the constructors championship if their rivals have a mediocre race.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(772 Articles Published)