Oscar Piastri branded his third-place finish at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix as a “damage limitation” result, admitting the race provided him with valuable lessons. The Australian driver couldn’t match the pace that saw him win in Azerbaijan, lagging behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who dominated the weekend with a commanding pole-to-win performance.
Starting fifth on the grid after a costly mistake in his final qualifying lap, Piastri made the most of an extended first stint on fresher tires, allowing him to overtake both Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, to secure his seventh podium of the season.
Reflecting on his performance, Piastri said, “Yesterday wasn’t ideal, but today the aim was to get onto the podium. I think losing so much time behind the Mercedes in the first stint meant that third was definitely the most we could have done. It was a good damage limitation day.”
Piastri’s strategy of patience paid off as he bided his time behind Hamilton, who started on Softs, knowing his opportunity would come later in the race. “It was difficult in the last few laps of the stint, but until then, we had a good pace advantage over Mercedes,” he explained. “I knew the race was going to come to me much later on, and that’s basically what we did.”
Piastri acknowledged that the race turned grueling in the final stages once he realized third was the highest position within reach, given that Max Verstappen was 20 seconds ahead. “The last 15 laps felt longer than the first 45,” he admitted. “It was definitely a tough race, but that’s what we’re paid for.”
Piastri’s podium finish, coupled with Norris’s victory, provided McLaren with a crucial points boost in their battle in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Despite the challenges, the Australian remains optimistic, highlighting that he’s learned valuable lessons for the future. “It’s a massive points haul for us, and I’ve learned some good lessons for next year as well,” he concluded.
