P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Piastri ‘surprised’ by McLaren team orders in Qatar GP
After achieving his first Formula 1 podium in Japan, Oscar Piastri secured his first victory in the top tier by winning the Sprint Race on Saturday. He followed this up by moving from sixth to second place on Sunday, surpassing his teammate Lando Norris as McLaren earned back-to-back double podium finishes. Piastri expressed his satisfaction with the weekend, highlighting the progress made and the team’s ability to maximize the car’s potential. He credited his strong start in the race to avoiding a collision between the two Mercedes cars and taking advantage of the situation. McLaren subsequently instructed Norris to hold position behind Piastri in order to protect the team’s standing against George Russell of Mercedes. Piastri recognized the need for improvement in managing the overall race but noted that the different race dynamics in Qatar provided a unique challenge. He emphasized the importance of tire preservation, particularly the front left tire, during the race.
Source: Motorsport Week
