Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has raised eyebrows over what he believes was a flawed strategy implemented by McLaren, which potentially derailed his chances of securing a pole position in the Sprint Qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The Australian rookie, fresh off his victory in his home country, had his sights set on pole position in Shanghai. His McLaren team, bolstered by their promising start, was in the spotlight with Lando Norris and Piastri showcasing impressive form in the single practice session.
However, the anticipated McLaren dominance was undermined when a series of errors by Norris and Piastri paved the way for Lewis Hamilton to swoop in and secure a pole position for Ferrari in the Sprint race. Norris, after blundering in both his attempts in SQ3, was relegated to the sixth spot, while Piastri, initially on provisional pole, couldn’t better his position on his second lap.
Piastri has since pointed fingers at McLaren’s tactical decision to send their drivers out for two timed runs, unlike their competitors who opted for a single-lap strategy. Piastri was left to contemplate whether their approach was counterproductive.
Reflecting on the situation, the Australian driver remarked, “In retrospect, our timing seemed off. We had the pace in SQ1 and SQ2, but took a different approach in SQ3 and went out earlier for two laps, which in hindsight, may not have been the most effective strategy.”
Despite being demoted to third due to Max Verstappen’s last-minute surge to second, Piastri remains buoyant. He believes the McLaren car still packs a punch and is optimistic about his chances in the race from the third position.
The Shanghai International Circuit’s recently relaid asphalt added another layer of complexity to the drivers’ challenges. Piastri admitted that the new track surface was a bit of a handful. While it offered more grip, it was also unpredictable, making it difficult for the drivers to maintain control of their cars.
The Australian driver conceded, “It’s been a tough day at the office trying to master the car on this new surface. For the Sprint Quali, I think we managed the situation fairly well, except perhaps for misjudging the run plan.”
Despite the hurdles, Piastri sees the improved grip as a positive change from the previous season and is looking forward to rectifying the mistakes in the upcoming race.
The fallout from the Sprint Qualifying continues to reverberate, with Lando Norris too expressing his disappointment over the difficulties faced by McLaren. As the dust settles, it’s evident that the McLaren team will have to reassess their strategies and learn from their mistakes to maintain their competitive edge.