Oscar Piastri has been a revelation in his sophomore season with McLaren, contributing to the team’s rise to the top of the Constructors’ Championship, dethroning Red Bull with just six races remaining in 2024. However, despite his remarkable performance, which includes seven podium finishes and two race victories, Piastri has identified an area where he needs improvement: qualifying consistency.
While Piastri has showcased his ability to match and even challenge Lando Norris in raw pace, he acknowledges that the qualifying head-to-head battle has tilted heavily in his teammate’s favor, with Norris leading 15-3. This qualifying disparity has made it harder for Piastri to capitalize fully on his race pace, leaving him 42 points behind Norris and 94 points adrift of championship leader Max Verstappen.
“Qualifying Consistency: The Missing Piece”
Reflecting on where he can still develop, Piastri admitted that qualifying has been his biggest hurdle this season. “I’ve not made life easy for myself in qualifying this year,” Piastri said. “Qualifying better, more consistently would help.” Although he has often been close to Norris in terms of lap times, the small margins have typically fallen in his teammate’s favor.
Piastri believes that the solution lies not in finding more speed but in executing his laps with greater regularity. “I think it’s just a matter of consistency. I don’t feel like I need to try and find extra time… my best performances are good enough to qualify on pole in the right circumstances. But I just need to be at that level more consistently.”
“The Battle Against Inexperience”
In addition to qualifying consistency, Piastri has also acknowledged the challenge of racing at circuits where he has limited experience. With several tracks in the latter part of the season still relatively unfamiliar, he knows that closing the gap to Norris will be more difficult. “There’s still going to be some tough races… on tracks that I’ve only been to once,” Piastri admitted, highlighting the importance of refining his performances at these venues.
Despite these challenges, Piastri remains optimistic about his development as a driver. “I’m improving a lot as I go through my career, but I’m certainly not the finished product yet.”
“Looking Forward to the Final Push”
With McLaren leading the Constructors’ Championship and Lando Norris locked in a battle for the Drivers’ title, Piastri’s ability to close the qualifying gap could be pivotal in the final six races. While his focus remains on consistency, his overall racecraft—evident in his impressive overtaking and race management skills—positions him as a crucial asset to McLaren’s championship push.
As Piastri continues to refine his skills, his quest for qualifying consistency could be the key to elevating him from a standout driver to a title contender alongside his teammate, Norris.
