Piastri bounces back with top-three start for Austrian GP Sprint

Oscar Piastri says McLaren is “back on the pace” after securing a solid top-three start for tonight’s “fun” Sprint Race at the Austrian Grand Prix.

McLaren brought the charge to Max Verstappen in last night’s Sprint Qualifying session, with both Piastri and Lando Norris challenging the Dutchman for a place on the front row in front of the passionate Orange Army.

“P3, not a bad effort today,” Piastri said. 

“We’re in a good spot for tomorrow and will work hard overnight ready for the fun to begin.”

The opening session got off to a quiet start, with Piastri following his competitors’ lead while waiting out the clock in his garages.

Once the stopwatch struck ‘9 minutes’, it was all systems a-go and the field flooded out onto the Red Bull Ring. 

The Australian’s first timed lap of 1:06.289s placed him in P8, with Piastri then improving to move into a safe P6.

He ended the first session with the added confidence of having the fastest middle sector in hand, being two-tenths quicker than Max Verstappen in Sector 2. 

In SQ2, there was a rush to leave the pitlane on the mandatory medium tyre.

Foreshadowing his final result, Piastri boosted his upgraded McLaren into an eventual P3, accompanied by Verstappen and George Russell at the top of the order. 

His second attempt allowed him to maintain P3 by the end of the middle stage of Sprint Qualifying, with his teammate over two-tenths slower. 

Oscar Piastri tests the limits in the gravel during SQ2 at the Austrian GP. Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.

In the top ten shootout, the drivers only allowed themselves one chance at a flying lap, wanting to maximise their run on the mandatory soft tyre.

Piastri was the third driver to set off on his last do-or-die attempt, stealing the fastest opening sector from the Mercedes duo.

His fastest, and only, time of SQ3 was a 1:04.987s.

According to the Australian, it wasn’t a perfect lap with Piastri leaving a bit of time at a few corners, however, as he crossed the line, he was rewarded with an exciting result.

The 23-year-old was “mostly” pleased with his Sprint Qualifying, securing a solid third-place start for tonight’s 24-lap race. 

“I think the position is quite good obviously, but the last lap was… a couple corners I could have tidied up,” Piastri said.

“I think it’s nice to at least know where the time is.

“Obviously, a bit of a rough one last weekend so I feel like we’re back on the pace.”

Piastri is running an upgraded front wing in Austria, with his front suspension also having been re-profiled.

The associated feedback from the Australian was positive, leaving the #81 far more optimistic for his chances across the weekend in their direct fight with Red Bull.

“The new front wing was working well, so yeah, excited for the rest of the weekend now,” he said.

“The gap to Max [Verstappen] is not massive, and I know there was a couple of big mistakes on that lap.

“I think we’re definitely in the mix.”

Piastri will have Norris and Verstappen directly ahead of him on the uphill run to Turn 1, and will be looking to defend from George Russell behind.

Lights out will take place at 8:00 PM tonight before Qualifying to set the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix follows at Midnight.

Image: Andy Hone / LAT Images

2024 Austrian Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, June 28th

FP1: 20:30-21:30

Saturday, June 29th

Sprint Qualifying: 00:30-01:14

Sprint Race: 20:00-21:30

Sunday, June 30th

Qualifying: 00:00-01:00

Race: 23:00

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