It’s all the fault of the softs
In today’s Sprint Qualifying at Zandvoort, some flashes of the ‘old’ Oscar Piastri were seen again, the one who in 2025 had dominated the first half of the championship and who exactly in the Netherlands a year ago had achieved his last F1 victory. The Australian McLaren driver was the fastest of all in SQ2, setting the best time with a tenth of a second advantage over teammate Lando Norris. However, when it came to defining the first five rows of the grid for tomorrow’s Sprint, Piastri faltered, finishing SQ3 with the fourth time, albeit just 99 thousandths behind George Russell’s pole position. Norris, on the other hand, stepped up by grabbing the second time.
Read more Three close teams, two different paths: Russell pole with the underpowered Mercedes
In the post-session interviews, speaking to the microphones of Sky Sports F1, Piastri attributed the responsibility for the step back made in the decisive phase of qualifying to the soft tires, which by regulation must be mounted in SQ3, while the first two rounds must be tackled with medium compound. “Disappointed? A little yes – admitted Piastri – I think the lap with the soft tires was not really good. I have the feeling that this year it often happens that, when mounting the soft tires, the balance is not as good as with the mediums. Compared to this morning in FP1, however, I am much happier – added the Australian McLaren driver – we changed some things and I felt much better”.
Read more Hamilton, misstep in Sprint Qualifying: “It was a total disaster”
“Obviously we are all very close – concluded McLaren’s #81 – and I think that with a better lap we could have also taken pole position. But I am learning and improving, so that is the most important thing”.
Read more Leclerc 3rd with a smile: “My best qualifying lap this year”
