Oscar Piastri Acknowledges McLaren Lacked Comfort in Pace After Missing Italian GP Pole
Casal dels Infants – Oscar Piastri admitted McLaren’s pace at the Italian Grand Prix felt “less comfortable” than in other weekends after missing out on pole. The Australian will start Sunday’s 53-lap race from third on the grid, behind polesitter Max Verstappen and his teammate and title rival, Lando Norris.
Piastri still leads the championship by 34 points over Norris, but he believes the gap between teams has been much tighter at Monza than in previous rounds.
“Turn 1 wasn’t great, but the rest of the lap was solid,” Oscar Piastri said after qualifying. “I think it was a good session overall, building up step by step. But it’s been incredibly close this weekend. Max and Red Bull looked strong, and so did a lot of other teams. So the result isn’t a huge surprise, though of course we’d like to be a bit further up.”
Despite missing out on the front row, Piastri remains optimistic for the race. He believes McLaren’s higher downforce setup could work in their favor over a long stint.
“Races are always different. I’m feeling confident for tomorrow,” he added.
Lando Norris, who impressed in free practice, nearly suffered an early exit after running wide on his first attempt in Q2. He was forced to use a fresh set of soft tires to secure his place in the next session before recovering in Q3. On his final flying lap, Norris posted an improved time but still fell just short of Verstappen’s record-breaking run at Monza.
“No, I’m not surprised Max was that quick. That’s normal,” said Norris. “My session was a bit up and down with too many mistakes, but to put it together on the last lap felt good. I’m happy with P2.”
Looking ahead to Sunday, Norris admitted the race will be tough, especially with Verstappen in front. “Our strength is usually on Sundays, but overtaking Max will be a huge challenge. We’ll see what happens,” he said.
He also highlighted Red Bull’s long-run pace, which has matched McLaren’s in recent stints. He warned that Ferrari could pose a serious threat from behind. “I don’t expect miracles. Ferrari will push hard early on. It’s a long race, a lot can happen, and we’ll try to make the most of it,” Norris added.
Verstappen starts on pole, Norris takes second, and Piastri lines up third, setting Monza for a thrilling showdown between the top three contenders. McLaren may not be at their strongest. Still, both drivers show confidence and promise an exciting fight to the finish line.
