Piastri pleased by McLaren’s promising pace

As Lando Norris celebrates a famous maiden win, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri is also excited by the team’s speed despite a strong result being taken away in Miami.

A late-race clash with the aggressive Carlos Sainz when fighting for fourth forced Piastri to make a late front wing change and he dropped from fifth to the back of the train.

The #81 McLaren used a fresh set of Mediums to make up six spots to come home 13th in the memorable Miami Grand Prix, but it could have been so much more, having sat a comfortable second in the early stages prior to the race-changing Safety Car.

Piastri, like the entire paddock, was pleased for his teammate and believes there is a lot to smile about before Imola where the Aussie will receive the full upgrade on his MCL38 rather than half of it.

“There are a lot of positives to come from today,” Piastri said. 

“I think for both of us the car was really strong and Lando to win the race on pace and to pull away from Max after the safety car is very encouraging sign.

“I am very happy for him and for the whole team. I think we deserve it. 

A late stop for damage ruined Oscar Piastri’s Miami Grand Prix. Photo by Steven Tee / LAT Images

“Our trajectory in the last 12 months has been towards this moment and also for Lando it’s been a long time coming, so I’m happy for him.

“The pace we had today was unexpected. I think we don’t fully understand why. We’re a bit up and down on different days. 

“But I think the fact that we can win a race on pace is a very very encouraging sign for the rest of the year.”

Piastri started sixth and got a steady start, but Sergio Perez firing deep into Turn 1, opened the door for the opportunistic Australian to surge past three cars on the inside with a great exit.

The Aussie had strong speed in third, setting the fastest lap on his way to hunting down Charles Leclerc to snare second on Lap 4.

Piastri was so fast Red Bull told Max Verstappen to “pick up the pace” and whilst the #1 did, the #81 remained the closest challenger.

The Australian led four laps before pitting on Lap 28 and being undercut by Leclerc, which crucially fell just one lap prior to the race-changing Safety Car for the Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant incident where the fast Norris hit the lead.

Piastri restarted fourth and found himself under pressure from a hungry Sainz behind.

The Spaniard first launched an attack around the outside of the heavy-braking Turn 11, but Piastri hung tough, forcing the Ferrari wide in a fair move.

However, Sainz was not of the same opinion and vented his frustration over the radio believing the Aussie should have been penalised, but the stewards thought otherwise.

This meant that when Sainz made a successful dive down the inside of Turn 17, he gave Piastri a whack with his rear right tyre on the way through.

The result was a significantly damaged front wing for Piastri and he had box to get changed, destroying any hope of joining teammate Norris on the podium or at least a strong points finish.

Unlike Sainz, Piastri did not say a word on team radio and also stayed quiet in the media pen.

Oscar Piastri battles with Carlos Sainz during the Miami GP. Image: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.

“I’ve not seen the incident to be honest, so yeah, I need to have a look at it first,” the Aussie said.

“I mean, we weren’t particularly close to the apex but I need to see it first.”

In terms of the race as a whole, Piastri said he was happy with his pace on the Medium before luck did not fall his way after his first stop.

“I was happy with the start and then the fact that I could get past Leclerc as well was unexpected coming into the race,” he said.

“At that point I was quite happy and was reasonably comfortable with him behind me there. 

“I was going very well on the Medium, but unfortunately that does not mean much at the end.

“The timing of the safety car wasn’t ideal.

“China was a bit of an odd one out, to be honest, I’ve been quite happy with the step I made from last season. 

“Encouraging from that side and even with the car that I had, I think we were very strong as well, so excited for Imola.”

Once McLaren recovers from the afterglow of Norris’ magnificent Miami effort, Imola awaits for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on May 17-19.

Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

Don’t forget the latest issue of Auto Action will be available via subscription here or at selected outlets. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.

Podcast: The untold Senna stories | New look Supercars calendar and more

It is 30 years since Ayrton Senna died at Imola, and our crew goes behind the scenes with untold stories. Plus, where will Adrian Newey go, and is he worth €150 a year?

Plus, NASCAR, IndyCar, WEC, IMSA and Motorsport Australia dump $1m!