Oscar Piastri was pleased to qualify first for today’s sprint race, but doubts it feels the same as taking pole for a grand prix.
The McLaren driver took his first F1 pole for today’s sprint race, but will line up sixth in tomorrow’s Qatar Grand Prix.“I think this for a sprint race, it doesn’t quite have the same feeling as a pole for a main race,” McLaren’s rookie driver told Sky, “but definitely I’ll take it.
“I’m just more happy that I’ve managed to deliver. Whether we had a car that was capable of fifth or pole I wanted to make sure that I went out there and delivered and felt happy with what I’d done.”
Today’s result was quite unexpected for Piastri after he finished no higher than seventh in the first two phases of today’s sprint qualifying session.
“I wasn’t really expecting that to be honest,” he added. “The first couple parts of qualifying I struggled a little bit and then was much more comfortable in that last section.”
He claimed pole with his final lap after McLaren team mate Lando Norris, who was first after the first runs, ran wide at the final corner, leaving him second.
“I did another bad job today,” said Norris. “I’m just not happy, I’m not doing a very good job.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
It came after Norris took 10th on the grid for tomorrow’s grand prix. He was initially second in yesterday’s qualifying session before being demoted to 10th as both of his Q3 runs were deleted for track limits.
“It should have been pole yesterday, should’ve been pole today but I’m not,” Norris added.
“[It’s] just mistakes, not putting a lap together when I need to. Easily quick enough for pole I just don’t put it together at all.
“But Oscar did a good job, Max [Verstappen] has done a good job again. Frustrating. The car’s quick enough, the team is doing an excellent job but I’m just not delivering on what I need to do. So of course I’m not going to be happy myself.”
As champion-elect Verstappen starts third, Piastri played down his chances of claiming victory in today’s 19-lap race.
“Max is only starting third so he’s not a million miles away,” Piastri said. “We’ll try our best, of course.
“There’s obviously the two of us on the front row so we’ll try and keep Max behind as best as we can.
“But it’ll be difficult. Obviously, the tyre wear and tyre situation might throw up some challenges during the sprint, but we’ll try our best to hang on to the front two.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2023 Qatar Grand Prix
- Albon fears Qatar GP conditions risked creating dangerous “wet bulb effect”
- Alonso: New-spec fireproofs and pre-race anthem timing made Qatar heat worse
- Magnussen admits he took “too long to learn” Losail circuit
- Analysis: Sargeant’s Qatar radio reveals his painful struggle to end point-less run
- Alfa Romeo ‘finally understand their upgrade’ Bottas believes as team target Williams
Zann (@zann)
7th October 2023, 16:39
Bit of a thrill to see him get pole!
Stephen Taylor
7th October 2023, 16:42
Lando you are not doing a bad job . Don’t eat yourself up about things so much. Oscar did slightly better but you were far from
asz
7th October 2023, 17:26
Perhaps during the past few races he is beginning to realize that it is a realistic scenario (a) to take a victory before the end of the year with a McLaren, and (b) that his rookie teammate might get there before he does, even if by a bit of fluke. And that thought puts extra stress on him.
MichaelN
7th October 2023, 17:22
Norris list of missed opportunities is indeed getting a bit longer than comfortable for a guy who hasn’t won yet, but 2nd for the sprint session is fine.
It’s great to see Piastri get to grips with F1 so quickly; he’s really doing a good job of living up to the hype and this generation desperately needs a few more stand out drivers.
And another good opportunity to consider that with a bit more tact, Alpine could have a Piastri-Alonso line-up.
Nick T.
7th October 2023, 17:57
He’s no Alonso, but Norris could be the next Mark Webber.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
8th October 2023, 4:52
norris race pace is much better than piastri’s, maybe piastri runs a more agressive setup ? that sprint race could not have been more generous to Piastri’s race habits, so yeah, probably not over 20 consecutive laps. lando will take him in a real race, even if he doesn’t start as well.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
9th October 2023, 13:52
@pcxmac I thinks it’s just a matter of experience. Piastri is still learning about the dark art of tyre management balanced with pace and I think will get there. Norris is far from a rookie this days.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th October 2023, 5:32
He reminds of verstappen and his chase for pole, he was faster than ricciardo, but when there were opportunities for pole, ricciardo was always the one to take them.
Nick T.
7th October 2023, 18:02
I just find it amusing how careful F1TV/Sky are so careful to avoid using the term pole to refer to P1 for sprint qualifying. It’s so absurd, but it really all came from fans whining that “pole only comes from the fastest GP qualifying lap!”