Piastri Reflects on ‘Painful’ Finish Behind Norris in Hungary
Oscar Piastri Reflects on Bittersweet Second Place at Hungarian Grand Prix
In a dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was left grappling with mixed emotions after finishing second to teammate Lando Norris. Piastri, who led the race during key moments, found himself unable to reclaim the top spot in a gripping final-lap battle, settling for second in a race defined by strategy and precision.
The Australian, who clinched his first Formula 1 victory at the same Hungaroring circuit last year, described the runner-up result as bittersweet. Speaking to reporters after the race, Piastri reflected on the close contest and the difficulties of overtaking on the notoriously tight and twisty track.
“Whenever you lose a race by such a little amount, it’s obviously a bit painful,” Piastri admitted. “But I mean, I’m sure it was entertaining from the outside. It was entertaining from the inside as well. So, pretty fun race, all things considered.”
The intense battle, however, was not without its frustrations. “When you’re on the losing side of that battle, it’s a little bit difficult,” he added. “We tried our best, I think, and we got ahead of Charles [Leclerc]. I don’t know what happened to him in the last stint, but … some things to look back on, whether we should have done something a bit different in terms of strategy. But very easy to say in hindsight.”
Strategy and Struggles on the Tight Hungaroring
Throughout the race, Piastri faced challenges inherent to the Hungaroring, a track where overtaking often proves elusive. The Australian outlined the difficulty of staying close in the high-downforce sections of the circuit.
“I knew it was going to be incredibly tough because getting close to the car ahead is one thing, but trying to overtake is a completely different story,” Piastri explained. “I knew that I was catching [Norris] a lot when I had clean air, but as soon as I got close, it was incredibly tough to stay close enough.
“There are so many corners in the middle sector that in some cases it almost feels like you do a better job in some corners, and then you pay the price at the next one because you’re even closer. That made it very tough. And then with such long corners to end the lap, it just kills any downforce you’ve got. Even if I had more laps, I’m not sure the result would have been any different, but I certainly tried.”
McLaren’s Strategy Pays Off, But Questions Remain
McLaren opted for a divergent strategy between their two drivers, with Norris running a one-stop race while Piastri made two stops, allowing him fresher tires for the final stages. However, Piastri believes these calls deserve scrutiny as the team analyzes what might have secured victory.
“I think we had to try and do something to beat Leclerc because it wasn’t obvious that we just had enough pace to blow past him and go and win that way,” he said. “We tried something. Was it the right thing in the end? I don’t know, but it’s always much easier when you’re the car behind to take that risk.
“For Lando, there was virtually nothing to lose by trying a one-stop race. For myself, potentially there was. We’ll look back and see if there was anything we should have done differently. But a two-stop was always the plan before the race, so it wasn’t even really discussed that much about doing a one-stop. It was certainly a gamble.”
Championship Momentum Heading Into Summer Break
Despite the “painful” finish, the team celebrated yet another dominant performance, marking McLaren’s seventh one-two finish of the season. Piastri’s consistency continues to be rewarded, as he heads into Formula 1’s summer break still atop the championship standings, holding a narrow nine-point lead.
McLaren’s resurgence in the 2023 season has captivated fans and reaffirmed their position at the front of the grid. For Piastri, however, the focus remains on improving and learning from what could have been in Hungary.
“There’s always room to look back and assess what we can do better,” Piastri concluded. “But overall, it’s been a solid stretch, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the second half of the season.”
As Formula 1 pauses for its summer break, McLaren seems poised to remain at the heart of the championship battle, with their two standout drivers delivering thrilling performances week in and week out.
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