“Not the afternoon we were looking for,” Piastri says

It was an intense end to the Japanese Grand Prix for Oscar Piastri who finished in P8, with the McLaren driver ultimately losing out to George Russell after a heated battle to the line.

Piastri was unsatisfied with his eighth-place finish in Japan, falling very short compared to his first venture to the iconic Suzuka circuit in which he claimed his maiden F1 podium in his rookie season last year.

“On my side, it’s not been the best of weekends,” Piastri said.

“I think also as a team we struggled a bit more today than we expected to as well.

“A lot of reflection and things to try and get on top of next time, but yeah, that was not the afternoon we were looking for.”

Piastri had a quiet start to the 53-lap race, steering clear of the usual argy-bargy across the two standing starts the Japanese crowd was treated to.

Oscar Piastri battles with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Japanese GP. Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.

The Australian’s first head-to-head battle came against Charles Leclerc, with the Ferrari driver hunting him down in the opening stint.

The interval between the two was well within DRS range at less than five-tenths, allowing the Monegasque to have a look at Piastri into Turn 1.

The move wasn’t made on the race track, however, with Piastri pulling into the pits for his first of two stops, relinquishing his medium tyres and diminishing the threat of a one-stopping Leclerc.

The Australian rejoined the race in P12, staying on his first set of hard tyres for an 18-lap stint.

“Busy race, obviously not fighting for the positions we wanted to be in but, yeah,” Piastri said.

Beyond the halfway mark of the Japanese Grand Prix, Piastri made his second stop following a significant lockup at Turn 17.

On Lap 33, he pulled into the pits from P5, settling in behind a struggling Lewis Hamilton at the back end of the top ten.

Seemingly running his own race for his first two stints, the third stint was where things truly heated up for the 23-year-old.

Fernando Alonso leads Oscar Piastri during the Japanese GP. Image: Simon Galloway / LAT Images.

Now running within Fernando Alonso’s DRS range, Piastri had his sights set on the Spaniard’s sixth place, however, his inability to pass left him at risk from Russell behind.

By Lap 50, the battle between the McLaren and Mercedes driver reached its first of two peaks.

Running alongside one another into Turn 16 resulted in slight front-wing contact between the #81 and #63.

Piastri was forced off track by the Mercedes driver, a moment which race control is investigating, however, he maintained his place in P7.

“It was pretty hard racing, of course,” Piastri said.

“Bit of wheel-banging… in the end, he got in front anyway so, yeah.”

In the closing laps, Alonso purposely dropped back to give Piastri the DRS advantage in his fight with the #63, aiming to reduce the risk of the Mercedes driver catching himself by the chequered flag.

Oscar Piastri during the Japanese GP. Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.

That tactic saved Alonso, however, the same couldn’t be said for Piastri.

On the penultimate lap, the 23-year-old ran wide through Turn 17 on his own accord, allowing Russell to successfully complete the overtake for P7.

Piastri didn’t give up, remaining close in the #63’s mirrors, however, by the chequered flag, it just wasn’t enough.

“I tried my best, but… yeah, anyway.”

Having taken home 4 points in Japan, Piastri will hope for a better result in China in two weeks’ time as McLaren strives to maintain third place in the Constructors’ Championship over Mercedes.

The Chinese Grand Prix will take place from April 19-21.

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