Piastri “improving every lap” at McLaren

Just two days of on-track experience into his rookie Formula 1 season, Australia’s Oscar Piastri is “improving with every lap” at McLaren.

After finding his feet finishing 18th on his first day, Piastri showed stronger pace in the MCL60 on day two of pre-season testing at Bahrain’s Sakhir International Circuit.

The 21-year-old rose up to ninth in the faster evening session with a 1:33.175, being just four tenths behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and edging out Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

After coming away from the first day with “lots to learn” Piastri is in a much more confident frame of mind after driving in the faster and more representative evening session.

“It was a solid day for the team with everything running smoothly. Today’s session has increased my learning of the car and I feel like I am improving with every lap,” he said. 

“It was good to focus on different areas throughout my drive, including the race simulation.

“I’m still getting up to speed with how I need to drive to extract the most out of the car. I think for me that’s the biggest point, trying to gel myself with the car. 

“We are going in a good direction which is pleasing to see on day two of testing and I’m looking forward to getting back out on track in the session tomorrow morning.”

Oscar Piastri driving the MCL60 under lights at Bahrain for the first time. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images

With two days of driving now under his belt, Piastri believes he is adjusting to life as a Formula driver.

“It’s been great so far (and I am) settling in well,” he said. 

“Obviously being with the team at the back end of last year and a lot of time at the factory this side of Christmas as well has been good, everyone has been very welcoming. 

“I’m getting to know the whole team better and better every day and it’s nice to be back at the race track driving.

“Coming from the junior categories, firstly the size of the team is a lot bigger by a magnitude of 10 or more. That side of things is taking a bit of getting used to, trying to remember the hundreds and hundreds of people. 

“Also being one of two drivers in a team that make their own car is a big privilege to have and nice to be able to have some input into that. 

“It’s nice to be calling myself a Formula 1 driver.”

During the second day of testing, McLaren CEO Zac Brown revealed McLaren had failed to hit the development targets with its 2023 car, while at the launch new team principal Andrea Stella said the squad was “not entirely happy” with the first spec of its latest creation.

Speaking on his first experience of the new MCL60, which occurred in unideal track conditions, Piastri believes the new car is a “small step” from MCL36 with “similar” issues to what held the team back last year.

“At the moment it’s pretty difficult to say,” he said. 

“My running was done on the first morning, when the track was pretty dusty and it was hot in the middle of the day, which just makes everything feel worse regardless of how good your car is. 

“A lot of it was about making sure the car works properly, making sure I’m comfortable in the car and ticking all of those boxes. 

“But I think in terms of feeling in performance, it’s I would say a small step from last year and I think the issues we have got are pretty similar to last year.

“I know we’ve got a few things in the pipeline and hopefully what we have got in the future makes us quicker.”

Piastri will test the MCL60 one more time in tonight’s morning session, which commences at 18.00 AEDT and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports/Kayo before the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 3-5.

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