McLaren’s Oscar Piastri left frustrated after the Canadian Grand Prix, expressing that the team needed an additional 30 laps to fully capitalize on their tire wear advantage at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Piastri, who started third on the grid, struggled to make significant progress during the race despite McLaren typically excelling in managing tire degradation on circuits like Montreal.
Team boss Andrea Stella shed light on McLaren’s performance dip, attributing it to the lack of medium-speed corners where the MCL39 car thrives. Stella emphasized the challenges posed by the constant braking and traction demands of the Canadian track, hindering McLaren’s usual strengths.
Piastri, reflecting on the race, mentioned, “Our pace wasn’t great in the first stint on the medium tyres. I think where we came into our own was when everyone else was degrading, we were good. And unfortunately, we probably needed the race to be about 100 laps, not 70, to take advantage of that.”
Despite the disappointing outing in Canada, Piastri remains optimistic about McLaren’s future performance, acknowledging the need for improvement to compete at the highest level. Looking ahead to the Austrian Grand Prix, Piastri is hopeful that the team can bounce back and showcase a stronger performance on a track that presents a different set of challenges.
The upcoming race at the Red Bull Ring will provide further insights into McLaren’s capabilities and whether the struggles in Canada were just a minor setback or indicative of larger issues within the team. As the competition heats up in the Formula 1 season, McLaren will be looking to regain their momentum and challenge the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull for podium finishes.
