Piastri confident ahead of Chinese GP sprint despite McLaren's challenges

Oscar Piastri is optimistic about competing from P3 on the grid in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint despite experiencing a "pretty tough" day with the McLaren on the newly resurfaced track. The Australian driver acknowledged the challenges faced during Friday's running after a strong showing in Free Practice 1, where Lando Norris topped the timesheets and Piastri was third, positioning McLaren as a favorite going into Sprint Qualifying.

Despite their pace, McLaren missed out on Sprint pole in SQ3, with Piastri securing P3 and Norris P6, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed the front row.

Reflecting on Sprint Qualifying, Piastri admitted that their alternative strategy in the final segment didn’t pan out as planned. “We were probably quick at the wrong points,” said Piastri. “SQ1 and SQ2 felt good, but in SQ3 we tried something different by going out much earlier and trying two laps, which may not have been the best decision.”

Piastri remains confident about the car’s pace and his ability to compete from P3. He also detailed the difficulties with the MCL39 during Friday’s practice. “The track surface has a lot of grip but is very peaky, making it tough to stay on top of the car,” he explained. “We did well in Sprint Quali, though our run plan might have been off. There’s better grip than last season, but still room for improvement.”

Following his P9 finish after sliding off in difficult conditions at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, Piastri aims to improve his points tally in Shanghai. “I’m still confident to fight from third tomorrow,” he asserted.

Piastri and McLaren are set to capitalize on the progress made as they gear up for a competitive Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix.

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