Oscar Piastri has dismissed suggestions that his 34-point championship lead over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris played any role in his qualifying performance for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The Australian will start Sunday’s race from third on the grid, behind Max Verstappen and Norris. Piastri extended his lead in the standings after winning his seventh race of the season at Zandvoort, while Norris retired with a chassis issue.
Asked if he was adopting a ‘damage limitation’ approach given his healthy advantage, Piastri was clear:
“When you’re on the lap, you’re going for it and going for pole. You don’t know what anyone else is going to do. At that moment, you’re flat-out. Afterwards, it might creep in a little bit, but there’s still a long way to go and I want more wins if I can.”
Not surprised by Red Bull pace
Unlike at Zandvoort, where McLaren dominated practice, the battle for pole at Monza involved multiple teams. Ferrari showed strong pace early, while Verstappen ultimately put Red Bull on top.
Reflecting on his Q3 performance, Piastri said: “Nothing major. Turn 1 was a little bit average but the rest of the lap felt pretty tidy. It’s been incredibly close this weekend. Max and Red Bull looked quick, and honestly, so did a lot of teams. It hasn’t felt quite as comfortable for us, so the result isn’t a big surprise. Of course, I’d love to be further up.”
Piastri missed FP1 as Alex Dunne fulfilled McLaren’s young driver requirement, meaning he had limited track time before FP2. Despite that, he remains optimistic for Sunday.
“It didn’t look too bad from where I was,” Piastri added. “It’s been a little trickier for us overall, but the race is always different. I’m confident we can be strong tomorrow.”
