Piastri ready to “give it everything” from his front-row start 

Oscar Piastri secured a valiant front-row start during a thrilling Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session, with the Australian’s sights now set on stealing the coveted top step from the home hero.

Making up for his grid-place penalty demotion in Imola seven days ago, Piastri battled with the big guns to equal his best qualifying position for a Grand Prix. 

“I’m really pleased with that,” Piastri said.

“It’s great to be starting on the front row, and next to Leclerc who has been incredibly quick all weekend. 

“I feel like we’ve been building momentum, and what better colours to do it in than these. 

“Our aim for tomorrow is to get a good start, and take the opportunities that will come to us. 

“While overtaking will be tricky, we’ll give it everything. 

“We’ve got a good starting spot, so let’s see what we can do.” 

It was an expectedly simple run through Q1 for the McLaren driver, with Piastri advancing to Q2 without any concerns. 

The 23-year-old sent a warning message to his competitors in the middle session, shooting to the top of the timing sheets and ending Q2 with the third fastest time in a top four separated by less than a tenth.

Come the top-ten shootout, Piastri’s pace and precision only improved.

As others’ hopes ended with brushes with the unforgiving walls and painful lockups, the #81’s McLaren was on rails.

His first run in Q3 rewarded Piastri with a provisional front-row start alongside Charles Leclerc, beating out the sole remaining Red Bull within the top three.

With just minutes remaining in the session, Piastri set off on his final lap, one that didn’t quite reap the desired sector times but was enough to help him maintain a well-deserved second-place start for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Piastri’s fastest time of the day was a 1:10.424s, a tenth and a half back on the home pole man. 

Proud to be edging closer towards his maiden pole position, Piastri felt as if it was possible on Saturday.

Having had a stellar end to his first Q3 lap, and a blistering start to his second attempt, Piastri said the combination “would have been enough” to achieve that milestone in Monaco if not for a few struggles at Turns 5 and 10.  

“We were struggling a little bit through the weekend, we didn’t really know quite where we sat,” Piastri said. 

“I think the last lap of Q3, there are a few corners I wish I could have again, but yeah, when you’re pushing so hard, it’s kind of inevitable that there’s going to be mistakes here and there, so no, very happy with it. 

“I think the pace in the car was good, and yeah, I think for a Monaco qualifying, it went reasonably smoothly.”

With his P2 lap, the Australian split the Ferraris, also qualifying ahead of Lando Norris who will start the 78-lap race from P4.

With such tough competitors in his mirrors, it will make for an interesting start to the already tough  Monaco Grand Prix.

Overtaking opportunities are limited around the Circuit de Monaco, and with driver error usually a huge deciding factor for the results, Piastri will be heavily reliant on strategy if he is to successfully secure his maiden F1 victory.

“I mean, the run to Turn 1 is always your best chance at any track. 

“Here, obviously, it’s a very short run, like we know. 

“Yeah, the strategy, you can try something because unless there’s a massive pace difference, which I’m pretty sure there won’t be, then overtaking is impossible here. 

“So, yeah, it’ll be won or lost in the pits, probably… so make sure we have a good day.”

Lights out for the Monaco Grand Prix will take place at 11:00 PM, AEST.

Image: Zak Mauger / LAT Images

2024 Monaco Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, May 24th:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday, May 25th:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday, May 26th:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Race: 23:00

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