P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A new Spa-Francorchamps lap record for Oscar Piastri that nearly wasn’t after a close call.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised Oscar Piastri for his exceptional qualifying performance, calling it “an almost perfect session.” Piastri secured the pole position for the Belgian sprint at Spa-Francorchamps circuit, leaving rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris trailing by significant margins.
Piastri faced a close call during the session when his initial fast lap in Q2 was deleted due to exceeding track limits, pushing him to deliver a remarkable performance in his second attempt on the same set of tires to secure his spot in Q3 by a mere 0.041s.
Stella highlighted Piastri’s impressive lap time of 1:40.510s and commended his ability to capitalize on the car’s potential, especially with the switch from medium to soft tires for Q3.
Despite McLaren’s upgrades on the car, including a new floor and rear wing, Stella remains cautious of Verstappen’s threat, noting the improvements made to the RB21 with a new front wing that enhances straight-line speed.
Stella emphasized the competitiveness of the field and the unpredictable nature of the Spa circuit, expressing anticipation for an exciting weekend ahead and the opportunities that lie ahead for both Piastri and Norris.
