McLaren conquered a third and fourth place at Albert Park.
The Australian driver asserted his dominance during the FP2 session at Suzuka circuit. This season, McLaren is starting better compared to the previous season, accumulating points in all three races. With a satisfactory start in the current weekend, Piastri aims to replicate his successful performances in Melbourne.
In the 2023 season, McLaren secured a double podium in Japan with a second and third place. The Suzuka circuit has been favorable for the Woking-based team in the past. The circuit’s characteristics align perfectly with the MCL38.
Discussing the team’s performance and expectations for the weekend, Piastri had the following to say.
Despite McLaren’s progress, they are still behind Ferrari and Red Bull. However, achieving a good result is not an impossible task for the team, as they have shown good pace this year. Furthermore, with the right strategy and a bit of luck, they may be able to secure a double podium. Only time will tell if McLaren will be able to replicate their impressive performance from last year at the Suzuka circuit.
While Oscar Piastri maintains a positive outlook for the ongoing race weekend, he acknowledged that Red Bull remains out of reach for McLaren. Ferrari has made significant improvements this year and is currently the second fastest team behind Red Bull.
The 23-year-old driver anticipates that the next two days may present challenges for him and the team. Typically, high-speed tracks favor McLaren, but ensuring a victory will not be easy, as Red Bull remains strong as ever and Ferrari has also shown a remarkable pace. To catch up to the Austrian team, McLaren will need to surpass Ferrari first. Perhaps, if fate is on their side, they will be able to do so during the 53-lap Japanese Grand Prix next Sunday.
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