Last Updated on November 21 2024, 11:24 pm

McLaren optimistic for Vegas as Piastri reflects on Brazil and looks ahead – Oscar Piastri heads into the weekend of the Las Vegas Grand Prix with renewed focus and optimism following a complex Brazilian GP in which he had to support team-mate Lando Norris.

Despite the controversy surrounding McLaren’s team dynamics and so-called ‘papaya rules’, Piastri remains undaunted, emphasising his goals for the remainder of the season and his satisfaction with his performance so far.

 

 

The Brazilian team orders: A one-off scenario?

At the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Piastri played a supporting role, giving up his position in the sprint to allow Norris to maximise his points tally. While that decision reignited debates about team orders and McLaren’s strategy, Piastri believes that the scenario is unlikely to be repeated in Las Vegas.

With Max Verstappen holding a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship, Norris’ slim mathematical chance of winning the title hardly warrants similar intervention.

Speaking to the media in Nevada, Piastri was asked if McLaren had reverted to their pre-Baku approach, where Norris was given priority support due to his stronger championship position.

“Yes, pretty much,” confirmed Piastri. “There are still some very specific scenarios where my help might be needed, but for the most part it’s back to the way it was before.”

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A focus on the Constructors’ Championship

While individual accolades may be out of reach, McLaren’s focus remains firmly on the Constructors’ Championship.

The Australian confirmed this as the team’s priority: “In the Drivers’ Championship the prospects are very slim, whereas the Constructors’ Championship is certainly not over for us. It’s not a sure thing, and that’s the biggest realisation.”

For Piastri, the dynamics in Las Vegas are very different to those in Brazil.

“There are some very specific scenarios where I could help if I’m asked,” he admitted.

“But I’m going to the weekend to try and win.” The statement underlines his ambition to compete at the highest level, without compromising his own racing goals.

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Reflecting on Brazil: A learning experience

The fallout from Brazil has been minimal for Piastri, who has largely put the incident behind him. He insisted that his decision to let Norris pass in the sprint race was pragmatic and in line with McLaren’s wider objectives.

“I wasn’t too disappointed about it,” said Piastri, reflecting on the weekend in Sao Paulo.

“Obviously I would have liked to win the sprint, but that’s different from a Grand Prix. And I think I proved what I wanted to prove with pole position in qualifying [for the sprint].”

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Proving his worth

Piastri’s outstanding performances this season, including his sprint pole in Brazil, have cemented his place as one of the sport’s brightest young talents. Achieving personal milestones has been a priority for the Australian.

“In the sprint itself, I simply did the right thing by letting Norris pass and acted in the best interests of the team,” he explained.

“Next year I want to make sure that I’m not in a position in the world championship where that’s necessary.”

The Australian also played down the extent of the controversy surrounding the team orders.

“Realistically, I had to help once in Brazil and that was it. So there was a lot of talk about not doing too much on track,” he said, signalling his willingness to move on from the debate.

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McLaren’s prospects in Las Vegas

As Formula One returns to Las Vegas for the second time in the modern era, Piastri is optimistic about McLaren’s chances. Last year’s inaugural race in Sin City was a challenge for the team: Norris retired early and Piastri finished a modest tenth. But the Australian expects a stronger showing in 2024, citing improvements to McLaren’s car and overall competitiveness.

“I’m not too worried,” said Piastri of the upcoming race.

“The race last year wasn’t too bad for me, there were just a few setbacks. I felt like I was going from the back to the front, from the front to the back and then back to somewhere in the middle. I think I did 20 overtaking manoeuvres – as there are 20 cars, I’ll take that,” he joked.

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Learning from the past

Piastri blamed last year’s struggles on a combination of poor strategy, poor race pace and other misfortunes. However, he believes McLaren have turned the corner this season.

“I think our car is much better this year; it has many more strengths,” he remarked.

Asked about his main rivals, Piastri singled out Ferrari as the team to beat in Las Vegas.

“I think Ferrari will be good,” he said, adding, “but I think we are still in a good position.”

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Strong finish in sight

With just a few races left in the season, Piastri is determined to end 2024 on a high. The Australian’s rookie year has been one of growth, marked by outstanding performances and moments of selflessness for the good of the team. Looking ahead to 2025, Piastri is clear about his ambitions: to compete on a par with his team-mate and establish himself as a championship contender.

For now, however, the focus remains on delivering a strong result in Las Vegas and helping McLaren secure its Constructors’ Championship targets.

With a better car, a more experienced Piastri and a team working in sync, the Australian is optimistic about what lies ahead.

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