Oscar Piastri Lacked Confidence in US GP Qualifying: "It's Just Not Clicked"

McLaren's Oscar Piastri expressed a significant lack of confidence in his MCL39 during Formula 1 United States Grand Prix qualifying, stating he struggled to find his rhythm and that the car "just hasn't clicked" for him this weekend.

Why it matters:

• Following a challenging sprint race earlier in the day that saw both McLaren cars eliminated due to contact, Piastri's struggle for pace in qualifying raises questions about his consistency, especially compared to his teammate Lando Norris, who secured P2.
• A lack of confidence in such a demanding track like COTA can significantly impact performance, highlighting the fine margins in F1 where driver feel and car setup must be perfectly aligned.

The details:

• Piastri and teammate Lando Norris were involved in a collision with Nico Hulkenberg during Saturday morning's sprint, necessitating extensive repairs to both MCL39s before grand prix qualifying.
• Despite the repair work, Piastri confirmed the car felt "normal" and was set up as intended, dismissing the morning's incident as an excuse for his performance.
• While Norris managed to rally and qualify an impressive second, just three tenths behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen, Piastri scraped through Q2 and ultimately qualified sixth.
• Driver Feedback: Piastri indicated that the car exhibited "the kind of behavior that we've had a couple of times through the season," suggesting a recurring handling characteristic rather than a new issue.
• He noted that COTA is a "tough track" requiring "a lot of confidence," which he lacked, leading to a half-second deficit to Verstappen's pace throughout qualifying.

Between the lines:

• Piastri's comments suggest a deeper underlying issue with the car's setup or characteristics that don't always align with his driving style, particularly on tracks demanding high confidence.
• The contrast with Norris's performance, who managed to extract significant pace despite similar circumstances, highlights the nuanced relationship between driver and car setup, and how slight differences can lead to notable performance gaps.
• This isn't the first time Piastri has faced an "off-kilter" weekend, referencing a similar situation in Azerbaijan last month, although he doesn't believe it signifies a long-term trend.

What's next:

• Piastri will start Sunday's Grand Prix from sixth position, aiming to leverage McLaren's race pace to make up positions and secure valuable points.
• The team will likely analyze data closely to understand why Piastri struggled to find confidence and rhythm, especially given Norris's strong showing.
• Resolving these intermittent "non-click" moments will be crucial for Piastri to maintain consistent performance and continue his development as a front-running F1 driver.