Piastri hails Suzuka podium as 'one of my best F1 weekends'

Oscar Piastri secured his first podium of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a strong second-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, calling it one of his best overall weekends in the sport. The result provided a crucial boost for both the driver and the McLaren team after a troubled start to their title defense.

Why it matters:

For Piastri, this podium breaks a run of awful luck that saw him fail to start the first two races of the season due to a crash and a technical failure. For McLaren, it demonstrates that when operating at their peak, they can still challenge at the front, offering a vital confidence boost amid a slower-than-expected start to the year that has seen them trailing Mercedes and Ferrari.

The details:

• Piastri made a brilliant start from third on the grid to take the lead on the opening lap and controlled the race until a strategic pit stop.
• His chance for victory was undone by a Lap 23 safety car, triggered by Oliver Bearman's crash, which allowed championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) to make a cheap pit stop and emerge ahead.
• The Australian driver emphasized his and the team's flawless execution, from practice setup to race strategy and energy management, stating there was "nothing more we could have done."
• The result was even more significant given the troubles on the other side of the garage, where teammate Lando Norris battled reliability issues throughout the weekend on his way to fifth place.

The big picture:

While celebrating a near-perfect personal performance, Piastri and McLaren remain fully aware of the gap they need to close. He noted that despite doing "everything right," they still finished 15 seconds behind the winning Mercedes, calling their ability to challenge the top two teams a "pleasant surprise." His comments underscore the high operational level required to win in modern F1, even with a competitive car, and highlight that Mercedes and Ferrari currently hold a performance advantage.

What's next:

The podium is a step in the right direction, but Piastri was clear that substantial work remains. McLaren must find more pure performance and, crucially, solve the reliability problems that have hampered both cars in the opening rounds. The team will look to build on this clean weekend as proof of their potential while urgently addressing their deficits to mount a consistent title challenge.