Piastri “optimistic” after P8 result in Bahrain

P8 was a welcomed first result of the season for Oscar Piastri, with both McLaren drivers finishing a steady Bahrain Grand Prix safely within the points.

“It was nice to get back out there, just be racing,” Piastri said. 

“Honestly, it felt like I raced just last week, it felt pretty natural jumping back in but not a bad way to start the year, I think.

“I personally felt like it was a good race for myself, and I think the race pace we had seemed ok.

“A few things to improve, but not a bad first race for us, especially when you look at where we were this time last year.”

Off the line, Piastri maintained his place in P8, slotting in behind Lando Norris as the field cautiously manoeuvred their way through the first sequence of corners. 

After watching his teammate make a move on Fernando Alonso ahead, Piastri took his opportunity on Lap 3.

Oscar Piastri leads Fernando Alonso during the Bahrain GP. Image: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.

The #81 cruised by the Aston Martin, aided by the fact that Alonso had dropped out of the DRS range to Norris.

Piastri was the first of the two McLaren challengers to stop in the race, pulling into the pits on Lap 12 for a fresh set of hard tyres. 

With the rest of the grid following suit and settling back into their rhythm, Piastri found himself running in P7, still directly behind his teammate.

By Lap 34, however, the hard tyres on the MCL38 had run their course and Piastri returned to the pitlane.

He remained on the hard compound until the end of the race, switching it out for a newer set.

Piastri lost a position to Lewis Hamilton as he rejoined the race, relegating the 22-year-old to P9.

“It was close between everyone, you know, I felt like with Lewis [Hamilton], and with Lando [Norris], and George [Russell], and even [Charles] Leclerc at one point, it just felt like we’d catch each other a tenth, lose a tenth… so we’re close but not quite close enough to really fight.”

Oscar Piastri in the MCL38 during the Bahrain GP. Image: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.

Now following Hamilton, the #44 and #81 made their way up to the rear of Alonso, passing him simultaneously, just as the lead McLaren had done a few laps prior.

 At the end of the 57-lap race, Piastri came home in eighth place, behind his teammate who crossed the line in P6.

“Not a terrible way to start the year, I think we definitely had some good moments and bad moments in the race.

“Historically this place has not been very friendly to us, the next few races have been quite friendly to us, so I’m optimistic.

“I’m excited to see what the next few circuits have in store for us, and looking forward to seeing what we can do in the races to come.”

Piastri heads into the second round of the season with four points to his name, hopeful of utilising the MCL38’s high-speed strengths to add to that total.

FP1 for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix kicks off at 12:30 AM, AEST, March 8.

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