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Piastri 'Scruffy' in Sprint Qualifying as Verstappen Strikes First Blow

Piastri 'Scruffy' in Sprint Qualifying as Verstappen Strikes First Blow

Summary
Oscar Piastri labeled his Sprint qualifying lap 'scruffy,' placing him third behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at COTA. Despite the imperfections, McLaren's strong P2 and P3 start bodes well for the Sprint race, especially with anticipated high tire degradation potentially playing into their hands. Both drivers are optimistic about their race pace against Verstappen.

Oscar Piastri openly admitted his Sprint qualifying lap at the Circuit of the Americas was 'pretty scruffy,' leaving him starting third behind championship rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Despite not maximizing his single-lap performance, the McLaren driver feels fortunate to be in a strong starting position, maintaining optimism for the upcoming Sprint race.

Why it matters:

McLaren's strong performance in Sprint Qualifying, with Norris starting second and Piastri third, sets up an exciting battle against Red Bull's Max Verstappen. This result is crucial for McLaren as they aim for their first race victory since the Dutch Grand Prix and continue to close the gap on front-running teams.

The Details:

  • Piastri's 'Scruffy' Lap: Oscar Piastri acknowledged losing time in several places during his sole soft-tire lap in SQ3, describing it as 'pretty scruffy' and unoptimized. He was nearly four-tenths behind Verstappen's pole time.
  • Norris's Near Miss: Lando Norris briefly held provisional pole before Max Verstappen edged him out by a mere seven-hundredths of a second. Norris expressed satisfaction despite missing pole, noting Red Bull's recent pace advantage.
  • COTA's Challenges: Both McLaren drivers highlighted the difficulty of the bumpy COTA circuit, which makes it challenging to achieve a perfect lap. Norris mentioned catching 'a few bumps a little bit wrong' as a factor in losing time.
  • McLaren's Race Pace Hopes: McLaren expects better performance in race conditions, particularly given the anticipated high tire degradation at COTA. Historically, their car has performed well on circuits with significant tire wear.

Between the lines:

While Verstappen's pole isn't surprising given Red Bull's form, McLaren's consistent front-row challenges underline their significant mid-season improvements. The team's confidence in their race pace, especially with expected high tire degradation, suggests they could be a genuine threat for victory, turning a qualifying 'scruffiness' into a strategic advantage.

What's next:

  • The 19-lap Sprint race on Saturday will be a crucial test of McLaren's race pace and tire management, with both Piastri and Norris aiming for a strong start to challenge Verstappen.
  • McLaren team principal Andrea Stella sees the P2 and P3 result as a 'good foundation' for both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix qualifying, signaling their intent to fine-tune performance and push for pole position in the Grand Prix.
  • The conditions in Austin, including hot temperatures and expected high tire degradation, are poised to make the Sprint race 'more entertaining' and potentially introduce more variability, which could play into McLaren's hands.

Original Article :https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-fortunate-to-be-third-sprint-qualify...

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