Piastri “really happy” with P5 despite late heartbreak in Canada

Following an action-packed day of racing at the Canadian Grand Prix, McLaren emerged as the top-scoring team with Lando Norris securing second place and Oscar Piastri crossing the line in P5 to forge “a decent haul of points”.

It was an outstanding effort from Piastri in the face of changeable conditions and fierce competition at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

So close to podium glory, the Australian was “happy” with the rewards his 70-lap run reaped, putting McLaren in good stead while things heat up in the constructors’ championship.

Heading back to Europe for the first triple-header of the season, Piastri sits on 81 points, contributing 10 points to McLaren’s hunt down of Ferrari, of which the team is now 40 points behind.

“I think on a weekend where it could have gone so wrong, both in qualifying and the race, to come out with such a decent haul of points, top scoring team for the weekend, is a solid result,” Piastri said.

“I think that’s probably the third weekend where we have scored a really big amount of points or the most points as a team so I think we can be really happy with that.”

Despite holding his own across what was a dramatic 70-lap outing, the #81 just couldn’t seal the final podium place in Montreal, ending his Sunday in fifth place.

Piastri had a solid start off the line, maintaining his starting position in P4.

Waiting for his intermediate tyres to come to, the opening 20 laps of the Canadian Grand Prix were quiet for the Australian.

By Lap 24, however, Piastri was in full attack mode, closing in on George Russell who was just five-tenths ahead before a Logan Sargeant-induced Safety Car neutralised the race. 

Following the leaders into the pits, a fresh set of intermediate tyres were due to combat the incoming rain that hit the circuit shortly after.

George Russell, Mercedes leads Oscar Piastri during the Canadian GP. Image: Andy Hone / LAT Images.

At the first of two SC restarts, roles were reversed between McLaren and Mercedes, this time, however, it was Piastri versus Hamilton. 

Piastri remained on high alert during the second stint, holding off the seven-time world champion who was within a second until the #44 elected to stop for slick tyres.

The Australian reacted a lap later, putting on his own set of fresh mediums as the track had largely dried up. 

Rejoining, Piastri was in contention for a podium finish, running at the back of a continuous three-way battle for P2 between himself, Russell and Norris.

McLaren didn’t react to Mercedes’ next pitstops taken during the second SC period, having confidence in their tyres and drivers to hold position in the final 10 laps of the race.

“Just maybe a few things in the race where if we did things a little bit better, myself and the team, we could have had a bit of a better result… maybe a better chance of a better result,” he said.

“I think at the end we were a little bit vulnerable to Mercedes on new tyres, and yeah, obviously being the second car in the team or the first car that they’re going to attack, it meant that I had my work cut out for me.

“A lap or two more, I think [Mercedes] would have got Lando as well very close to the end.”

It was a difficult task for Piastri, with the 23-year-old facing some aggressive tactics from a revitalised Russell.

Into Turn 13, Russell was confident that he had completed the move for Piastri’s P3, with over-ambition getting the best of the Mercedes driver who made mid-corner contact with the #81.

The contact left Russell at a momentary disadvantage as he scurried across the run-off area, allowing Hamilton to form a promptly successful attack on Piastri.

Relegated into P4, Russell soon regained his impressive pace, stealing Piastri’s starting position from him.

The Australian was forced to settle for fifth place at the chequered flag, adding 10 points to McLaren’s tally on a positive day for the team.

“We’re always chasing perfection, I feel like there were a few steps in that race that could have been better.

“But yeah, decent haul of points and we’ll try again next time.”

The Formula 1 grid will have a weekend off before heading back to Europe for the first triple-header of the season, kicking off with the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from June 21-23.

Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images

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