Piastri Reacts to Vegas Qualifying Drama, Believes in Race Pace Despite P5
Oscar Piastri expressed confidence in his McLaren's pace to challenge for victory in Las Vegas, despite qualifying P5. He attributes his grid position to a yellow flag incident caused by Charles Leclerc's spin and an aggressive move by Isack Hadjar during Q3, which disrupted his hot lap. Piastri remains optimistic about making up ground in the race and believes a podium is achievable.
Oscar Piastri qualified P5 in Las Vegas, acknowledging it as a setback but confidently stating that both he and his McLaren MLC39 possess the speed to challenge Lando Norris for the win. He attributed his qualifying position to a yellow flag incident and an overly aggressive rival.
Why it matters:
Piastri's P5 grid slot, while not ideal for his championship aspirations against teammate Lando Norris, sets the stage for a potentially dramatic race in Las Vegas. His confidence in the car's pace, despite the qualifying incident, suggests McLaren could be a dominant force, adding intrigue to the Constructors' and Drivers' championships as the season progresses.
The Details:
- Wet Qualifying Conditions: Friday night's qualifying session in Las Vegas took place on a wet street circuit, where changing conditions and yellow flags significantly impacted the outcome.
- Q3 Incident: Both McLaren drivers reached Q3. During the critical final segment, as drivers switched from full wet to intermediate tires, timing was paramount.
- Leclerc's Spin and Yellow Flag: Piastri was directly affected when Charles Leclerc spun at Turn 12, bringing out a yellow flag. Piastri immediately slowed down, as per regulations, to avoid a penalty.
- Hadjar's Aggression: While Piastri was slowing for the yellow, Isack Hadjar attempted to overtake him, forcing Piastri into the run-off area to prevent a collision.
- Sky pundit Jenson Button commented on the