Oscar Piastri has explained that a “big moment” at the start of his push lap damaged his chances of a higher grid position for Sunday’s Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
The Australian was quietly bullish about McLaren’s chances of closing the gap to its rivals before the weekend began, and the Woking-based squad has indeed leapfrogged Red Bull.
After finishing sixth in the Sprint Race, Piastri set about putting his papaya cat amongst the pigeons, but eventually ended up fifth, a tenth behind the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who were third and fourth respectively.
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week at the Shanghai International Circuit, Piastri revealed that his lap might have seen him line up ahead of both Ferraris had it not been for “a pretty big moment”.
“My last lap had a pretty big moment at Turn 1,” he said.
“It’s always easy to say you can make up the time, and I think if you put my best sectors together, then it’s probably in the mix with the Ferraris.
“But with optimising the power unit, with how tricky the tyres are in these conditions, the wind, I’m pretty sure everyone’s got a similar story.
“So I think where we’ve ended up is pretty representative. Hopefully, we’ve improved a little for the race tomorrow compared to the Sprint.”
In the Sprint, Piastri looked somewhat racey, but was left to cede fifth to Andrea Kimi Antonelli – who lines up for the Grand Prix on pole – after overtaking him at the Safety Car restart just a shade before crossing the line to start the next lap.
McLaren race pace has been the big problem so far, which may see its challenge fade. Prior to the Safety Car in the Sprint, the Mercedes and Ferraris left the remainder of the pack behind after a quarter of the race.
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