Sports · Motorsport · 3 hrs ago
Piastri says McLaren needs more grip after Austin practice
Oscar Piastri said McLaren needs more grip after Friday practice at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
He finished seventh in the first session and eighth in the second, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fastest in both.
Piastri said the team had time to find before qualifying and would analyse changes it tried during practice.
McLaren also struggled to get the expected grip from soft tyres, and gusting winds and track limits made faster laps harder.
Teammate Lando Norris was third in the first session but seventh in the second, while McLaren said its long-run pace and updates showed promise.
The team still needs to improve in slower corners, where its car was weaker than in faster sections.
Piastri and Norris have one more practice session on Saturday before qualifying.
Oscar Piastri said McLaren needs to improve grip after a difficult Friday of practice at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
He finished seventh in FP1 and eighth in FP2 at the Circuit of the Americas.
Piastri was 0.734 seconds off Charles Leclerc in FP1 and 1.096 seconds behind him in FP2.
McLaren tested suspension, brake-duct and aerodynamic changes but struggled to find the expected grip on soft tyres.
Piastri said the team would analyse its work overnight before Saturday’s qualifying.
- Who
- Oscar Piastri and the McLaren team.
- What
- Piastri said McLaren was struggling with grip and needed to find more performance.
- When
- Friday’s two practice sessions, ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.
- Where
- The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, at the United States Grand Prix.
- Why
- McLaren had not found the grip and consistent pace it needed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Piastri finished seventh, 0.734 seconds behind Charles Leclerc.
Piastri finished eighth, 1.096 seconds off Leclerc’s pace.
McLaren planned to analyse its practice work and seek improvements.
- Piastri’s FP1 result
- Seventh
- Piastri’s FP2 result
- Eighth
- FP1 gap to Leclerc
- 0.734 seconds
- FP2 gap to Leclerc
- 1.096 seconds
- Practice laps completed
- 50
- Location
- Circuit of the Americas, Austin
What people are saying
The main thing we’re struggling with is grip, so we have work to do on that side of things.
It’s clear that we have a bit of time to find on track.
Compared to the teams ahead we’re a step behind.
The long runs were quite positive, and the series of minor updates we’ve brought to this track seem to be delivering the expected results in terms of performance.