Oscar Piastri believes his qualifying outcome value him victory on the Belgian Grand Prix after recovering from fifth on the grid to ultimately be categorized second.
George Russell initially led dwelling a Mercedes 1-2 forward of Lewis Hamilton, however Russell was later disqualified for having an underweight automobile, with extreme tire put on on a one-stop technique understood to be a possible issue. Talking earlier than Russell’s penalty was introduced and having crossed the road 1.1s behind the winner in third, Piastri says it was restoration from a troublesome qualifying spot.
“I’m fairly completely happy on the entire,” Piastri mentioned. “I believe it was a rather well executed race. Clearly the one-stop was a risk and I believe there’s [probably] lots of people on the market kicking themselves that they didn’t take into account it extra.
“However no, I believe we executed an incredible race, had a fast automobile and finally simply didn’t put it in the appropriate place in qualifying yesterday. I believe, given the place we began, very completely happy. In the end I believe there was a bit extra potential this weekend.
“It did cross my thoughts [to one-stop], however not critically sufficient. I used to be amazed at how a lot distinction the soiled air made right this moment. I believe when Lewis and Charles [Leclerc] pitted for the second cease, I believe I went like 1s sooner simply because I had clear air.
“That was spectacular, however then it felt prefer it form of degged somewhat bit once more after that time. With 16 laps, I believe it was, or 15 laps round Spa, it felt like a fairly large danger to try to go to the top.
“I knew that even with the tire benefit that we had been build up, that we had a powerful likelihood to try to win the race anyway that manner. So possibly we should always have thought-about the one-stop somewhat bit extra. With the two-stop, I believe we did job of capitalizing on it. Simply sadly, on my facet, didn’t give us the monitor place in qualifying.”
Piastri had a gradual remaining pit cease when he overshot his pit field barely and the McLaren pit crew needed to readjust, however he believes that was the one error in what he charges as one in every of his finest race performances general.
“I might say so — I’m undecided my entrance jack man agrees!” he mentioned. “However no, I believe it was a very sturdy race. I believe to try to get previous Charles was not straightforward, and I believe if I didn’t handle to do it on that lap, I in all probability would have been caught there for a very long time. That was a fairly pivotal second of the race.
“The tempo was very sturdy, so I felt very, excellent this weekend. Even on Friday, the tempo regarded actually sturdy. Simply kicking myself somewhat bit that I didn’t get qualifying proper, however I believe it was a really sturdy weekend and possibly one in every of my one in every of my higher races.”
