McLaren’s front-row duo eyes Sprint victory, with Piastri prioritising team strategy over personal glory in São Paulo this weekend.
Oscar Piastri has claimed pole position for the Sprint at the São Paulo Grand Prix, with McLaren F1 seemingly set to dominate the weekend in Brazil. The Australian driver is pleased with the steady improvements he made throughout the qualifying session for the 100-kilometre race set to take place tomorrow.
“It was a tough session; I felt comfortable at the start, and the grip improved as we went on. With this track, it’s hard to see where you’re heading, making it even more challenging to put in a quick lap. It’s a test, but I’m happy to be on pole for the Sprint,” Piastri commented.
“My first lap wasn’t ideal; there were a few areas where I knew I could improve. The second lap was solid, the tyres held up well, so I’m very pleased and looking forward to starting the Sprint from the front.”
“I’m going to try to win, of course; that’s the priority. But it’ll be a different Sprint from last year, given the resurfacing. We’ll see how the temperatures and weather hold up, but we’ll aim to keep things as they are.”
Piastri is prepared to support Norris in the Sprint
The Australian has expressed openness to letting Norris take the Sprint victory if it could help his teammate secure an additional point: “We’ll see how the pace plays out tomorrow for both of us. I think first and second place are the main goals.”
“We’ll then look at the order. I’m aware I’m not in the drivers’ standings race; for the team, it doesn’t matter much, so I understand that, and we’ll see how things unfold.”
“I know that’s the situation, so we’ll see. I’ve said from the start that I’d give up the win if it came to that in our discussions. Winning would be nice, but it’s just a single point, and this isn’t the main race, so we’ll see.”
“Lando needs the points in the drivers’ standings much more than I do, but of course, I still want to win. If I put in the effort and show good pace, I’m sure it won’t go unnoticed, but we’ll see how things go.”
Norris “hates” questions about the championship
Lando Norris was dominant throughout the day, only to see his teammate edge him out at the end of SQ3, with Norris unable to finish his second fast lap. Still, he’s pleased with his pace: “Yes, we’ve made a lot of progress since the start of the day, where we were struggling. It’s a surprise to be this quick, but obviously, it’s a pleasant one.”
“I made a mistake on my last lap and came in. We’ve worked well with the team, and it’s a positive surprise. We’ve taken good steps forward, and I’m pleased with today, but let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
When asked about his battle with Max Verstappen and the Dutchman’s fourth place on the Sprint grid, Norris expressed frustration over the recurring nature of such questions.
“I don’t care, I hate these questions! I’m just going to race; I don’t care where he qualifies—I’m focused on my own work. It’s the same question every time, but it doesn’t matter whether he’s first or last; I’m focused on my job.”
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Norris and Piastri Set to Dominate Front Row in Brazil Norris and Piastri Set to Dominate Front Row in Brazil
