logo
Oscar Piastri turns disappointment into Belgian GP victory

Oscar Piastri turns disappointment into Belgian GP victory

The Sun6 days ago
OSCAR PIASTRI transformed his personal frustration into a triumphant performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, securing his sixth win of the season. The 24-year-old Australian, disappointed after losing to McLaren teammate Lando Norris in qualifying, executed a decisive overtake on the opening lap following a rolling start on a damp track.
Piastri maintained his lead after switching from intermediate to slick tyres, expertly managing his medium compounds to fend off Norris, who opted for hard tyres in the closing stages. 'I knew lap one was going to be probably my best chance of winning the race,' Piastri said. 'I got a good exit out of Turn One and then lifted a little as I dipped through Eau Rouge and it was enough.'
The victory extended Piastri's championship lead to 16 points over Norris, who acknowledged his rival's superior drive. 'He had a better start and he deserved it today,' Norris admitted. 'It's should-a, would-a, could-a... Oscar deserved it.'
Piastri also reflected on the strategic tyre choice, noting that medium compounds provided a safety net against potential safety car interruptions. 'For me, medium was the safest tyre to be on at that point,' he said.
The win marked McLaren's first Belgian GP triumph since Jenson Button's 2012 victory - AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Piastri confident he can win after 'bizarre' Hungarian qualifying
Piastri confident he can win after 'bizarre' Hungarian qualifying

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Piastri confident he can win after 'bizarre' Hungarian qualifying

BUDAPEST, (Hungary): McLaren's Formula One leader Oscar Piastri was confident he could win from second place on the starting grid after a 'bizarre and somewhat frustrating' Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying yesterday. The Australian will line up alongside Ferrari's pole-sitter Charles Leclerc at the Hungaroring on Sunday with title rival and teammate Lando Norris in third place. "Pretty confident," Piastri, 16 points clear of Norris, said of his chances of taking a seventh win from 14 races. "It was good last year, so hopefully it can be good again this year." Piastri started second last year, with Norris on pole, and went on to take the first win of his F1 career. Sunday's race could see some rain, which could make things tricky on a twisty circuit where overtaking is already difficult and strategy can be crucial. McLaren were fastest in all three practice sessions but Leclerc made the most of the conditions to seize a surprise advantage. "If you're sat where Charles is, fantastic. If you're sat where I'm sat, bizarre and somewhat frustrating," he said when asked to sum up the session. "I think the conditions completely changed, and it was just weird. "I think our pace has been good, but Charles has been quick all weekend, in certain sessions," added the Australian. "It is a very difficult track to overtake on, and it's not going to be the easiest place to try and regain the lead." Norris, winner of four races so far this campaign, agreed with his teammate. "I think we always have, at least in the race, a bit more of an advantage. But our main competitor over the last four, five races has been Charles and it's been the Ferrari," said the Briton. "So, if there was anyone else that's going to be on pole today, it was going to be Charles. And if there's anyone that's going to make our life tough tomorrow, it's going to be the same guy." — REUTERS

Ferrari's first Hungary pole since 2017 as Leclerc edges McLaren duo
Ferrari's first Hungary pole since 2017 as Leclerc edges McLaren duo

Malay Mail

timean hour ago

  • Malay Mail

Ferrari's first Hungary pole since 2017 as Leclerc edges McLaren duo

BUDAPEST, Aug 3 — Charles Leclerc grabbed the first pole position of the season for Ferrari on Saturday for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver will share the front row on Sunday with McLaren's Oscar Piastri. McLaren's Lando Norris will start from the second row alongside fellow Briton George Russell who was fourth for Mercedes. 'I honestly have no words, it's probably one of the best pole positions I've ever had because it's the most unexpected for sure,' said Leclerc. The 27-year-old went late in the final minutes of a closely-contested session to clock a best lap in one minute and 15.372 seconds in changing conditions, leaving his rivals frustrated as they failed to improve on their first run times. He took pole by 0.026 seconds ahead of series leader Piastri and by 0.041sec ahead of the Australian's team-mate and title rival Norris, with Russell 0.053sec adrift in a breathtakingly close finish. It was Leclerc's first pole of the year, his first in Budapest and the 27th of his career. It was Ferrari's first pole in Hungary since Sebastian Vettel in 2017. 'The whole qualifying has been extremely difficult and when I say that I'm not exaggerating,' said Leclerc of the windy conditions at the Hungaroring. 'It was super difficult for us to get to Q2 and Q3, in Q3 the conditions changed a little bit and everything became a lot trickier and I knew I had to just do a clean lap to target third. 'At the end of the day it's pole position and I definitely did not expect that.' — AFP

Hamilton feeling 'useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying flop
Hamilton feeling 'useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying flop

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Hamilton feeling 'useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying flop

BUDAPEST: A crestfallen Lewis Hamilton declared himself "useless" after qualifying in 12th position for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday as Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surged to pole position. Seven-time world champion Hamilton exited the session in Q2 with his head down and his helmet on as the 40-year-old retreated to the team's motor home. "I'm useless," said the British driver. "Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You've seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver." But he was backed to bounce back by four-time champion Max Verstappen who himself ranted about his Red Bull car and team after struggling to line up eighth on the grid. "Looking at the whole weekend, I think we're happy to be in Q3 because I've been more outside the top 10 than in it -- so, yeah, it's been difficult this whole weekend," said the Dutch driver. "No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying so, for me, it was not really a shock. I just drove to what I already feel the whole weekend." The 27-year-old Dutchman added that Red Bull -- who had left a towel in his cockpit during a pitstop on Friday which led him to throw it out of the car, 24 hours after he had declared he was staying for 2026 -- did not yet understand the problems with the car. "No, clearly not," he said. "I mean, otherwise, of course, we would have changed it already, but somehow, this weekend, nothing seems to work." Last year, Verstappen said he had been quick enough to challenge for pole, but this season, "from lap one, it just felt off -- and we threw the car around a lot and nothing really gave a direction. "Now, it's just nothing works. You know, it's like just going around in circles and nothing gives you any kind of idea of what to do." Looking ahead to Sunday's race, he said: "There may be a few cars in front of me that I can maybe battle with a little bit and, of course, Lewis is still a bit further down the road which, I think, he shouldn't be there right? So, he will come through a bit." The two multiple champions, who battled so intensely in 2021 when Verstappen claimed his first title after a controversial victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, appear to have found a rapprochement and mutual respect. But Hamilton's heart-on-sleeve vulnerability as he seeks his first Ferrari podium after 13 races this year may soon become a sad ending story if he cannot sort out his qualifying woes. As the record-holder of nine poles and a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, he has to produce a rousing reminder of his best racing days on Sunday, as Verstappen expects. - AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store