Oscar Piastri admitted that McLaren appears to have a significant strategic ace “up our sleeve” in Sunday’s Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
The Australian scored pole position at the Zandvoort circuit on Saturday, edging out team-mate Lando Norris in the process.
Zandvoort usually creates harder tyre wear, and with Pirelli going one step softer on its compounds this year, it seems that there will be some figuring-out to do by most teams.
George Russell, speaking after qualifying, revealed the compounds that the field has opted for, with the circuit and conditions in mind.
“Well, a lot of people committed just to one Medium, one Hard, so that obviously shows what people will be attempting to achieve,” Russell told media including Motorsport Week.
“The Soft doesn’t look out of the question as a race tyre, but of course you wouldn’t choose to be running the Soft.
“So yeah, the sort of strategy, at least what people will attempt, was already quite clear before the session.”
McLaren has ‘got some options available’
McLaren’s MCL39 looked balanced in comparison to its rivals around the tricky coastal circuit, and to demoralise the competition further, it seems to have an added advantage with tyres.
Piastri, speaking immediately after bagging his all-important pole, revealed what McLaren has in its armoury that might just prove to add further advantage to the papaya squad.
“The tyre strategies from everyone are a bit different,” Piastri told media including Motorsport Week. “I think us two are one of the only teams to have two Hards and a Medium.
“I think pretty much everyone else has just one Hard and one Medium.
“So, we’ve got that kind of up our sleeve, but it also kind of tells you a little bit of what most people are thinking, I guess. So, we’ll wait and see, but we’ve got some options available.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris reliant on ‘magic’ to beat Oscar Piastri to F1 Dutch GP win
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