P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Not quite ‘wheels off the wagon’ stuff from Oscar Piastri, but an interesting McLaren take after sprint qualifying in the United States.
Oscar Piastri expressed concerns that McLaren’s F1 competitors appear to be stronger than before in the United States, with the team not performing as well. Piastri will start from the 16th position in Saturday’s race in Austin due to his fastest time being disqualified for exceeding track limits. Lando Norris secured fourth place on the grid, trailing behind Max Verstappen by 0.250s. Despite this, McLaren maintains a 41-point lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ championship. Both teams introduced upgrade packages in Austin, with Norris testing a new front wing. Piastri acknowledged that McLaren’s performance advantage in recent races has diminished, but believes they are still competitive. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but remains determined to fight for points in the race.
