Piastri: Holding off Russell a 'big surprise' after Suzuka podium

Oscar Piastri secured a strong second place at the Japanese Grand Prix, but the McLaren driver said the true surprise was not battling Ferrari, but successfully fending off Mercedes' George Russell to secure the podium finish. The result marked Piastri's first podium of the 2026 season and signaled McLaren's potential to disrupt the established front-runners.

Why it matters:

After a challenging start to the 2026 season plagued by reliability issues, McLaren's competitive performance at a demanding circuit like Suzuka provides a crucial confidence boost. Piastri's ability to hold off a Mercedes, a team that has emerged as a benchmark this season, suggests the papaya team has the underlying pace to fight at the front when everything clicks, potentially altering the competitive hierarchy.

The details:

• Piastri qualified fourth but took the race lead with an excellent start, capitalizing on a poor getaway from Mercedes' George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
• Russell recovered and closed in on Piastri's McLaren but could not find a way past, despite having what appeared to be a faster car.
• A poorly timed Safety Car period cost Piastri a position to eventual race winner Kimi Antonelli, who pitted under the yellow flags, but Piastri managed the restart well to secure P2.
• In the post-race press conference, Piastri clarified that matching Ferrari's pace was expected, but holding off Russell was not: "I think being able to keep George behind was a big surprise... the fact that we could be so close to Mercedes and beat one of them, I think that was a much more pleasant surprise."
• Teammate Lando Norris finished fifth, contributing to a solid points haul for the team.

What's next:

Piastri hailed the weekend as "probably one of my best weekends in F1," citing strong practice sessions, qualifying, and race management. However, he was quick to temper expectations, noting McLaren still has performance to find and must solve its persistent reliability problems, which have hampered Norris's side of the garage. If the team can build on this foundation of speed and execution, they are poised to become a consistent headache for the teams ahead.

summary: Oscar Piastri revealed his surprise at holding off Mercedes' George Russell to finish second at the Japanese GP, a result he found more significant than beating Ferrari. He called it one of his best F1 weekends, highlighting McLaren's potential to challenge the front when reliability issues are solved.