Piastri Reacts to Ferrari’s Las Vegas Surge: ‘Not Ideal,’ But Could It Have Been Worse?
Oscar Piastri, McLaren’s driver, acknowledged that Ferrari’s strong performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix was not what his team had hoped for in the closely contested battle for the constructors’ championship. However, he also remarked that “it could have been much worse.” Ferrari entered the race as the team to beat, and while they […]
Oscar Piastri, McLaren’s driver, acknowledged that Ferrari’s strong performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix was not what his team had hoped for in the closely contested battle for the constructors’ championship. However, he also remarked that “it could have been much worse.” Ferrari entered the race as the team to beat, and while they didn’t secure a victory, they still managed to close the gap to McLaren in the standings. The two teams are now separated by just 24 points, setting up an intense fight that could come down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull, trailing Ferrari by 29 points, is also still in contention.
Mercedes dominated the Las Vegas circuit, with both drivers topping every session and eventually winning the race. However, Ferrari made the most of their performance, with Carlos Sainz finishing in P3 and Charles Leclerc in P4. McLaren’s drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, ended the race in P6 and P7, with Norris ahead. After the race, Piastri reflected, “We knew this would probably be a trickier track for us, and we expected Ferrari to be strong. Of course, it’s not ideal that they gained some points on us, but I think we expected it could have been worse.”
Despite the setback in Las Vegas, McLaren remains optimistic, confident that the remaining races offer strong potential. Piastri is particularly hopeful for the upcoming Qatar race, as the track’s high-speed corners and flowing nature should play to McLaren’s strengths. He also mentioned his penalty for a false start, which caused him to drop from eighth on the grid. “I didn’t think I was that far forward, but clearly, I must have been,” Piastri said. “It didn’t change much, though. Yes, it made the early and middle parts of the race a bit more difficult, but I don’t think it affected the overall result. We just weren’t fast enough, so there are definitely things to review.”
With the competition so close, McLaren will need to step up their game in the final races to maintain their position in the constructors’ championship fight. The upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are shaping up to be thrilling, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull all vying for the win.
