McLaren can be confident ‘wherever we go’ says Piastri

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Monaco Grand Prix runner-up Oscar Piastri believes McLaren can fight for wins at every remaining race this season after demonstrating its car’s strength on a diversity of circuits.

Team papaya’s current impressive run of form has injected a surge of optimism into the team.

After Lando Norris followed up his landmark win in Miami earlier this month with a strong display at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where he was beaten to the checkered flag by Max Verstappen by less than a second, Piastri finished second behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Monaco.

Like last season, McLaren’s development programme appears to be paying strong dividends while the team’s consistency is also a good indication of the Woking-based outfit’s inherent strength, especially given the vastly different challenges the last three venues presented.

All this augurs well for McLaren’s upcoming summer according to Piastri.

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“I think it’s been three very different circuits in the past three races, and we’ve been competitive at all of them,” commented the Aussie after his solid run to the podium in Monte Carlo.

“Miami was probably one of our worst circuits before this year. Imola has always been kind to us, but we had a very strong weekend there, and here it’s been… Let’s say our car’s never been the strongest in the slow corners, and this weekend we’ve been very quick again.”

McLaren’s engineers still have a few kinks and creases to iron out of the team’s MCL38. But looking forward, Piastri believes he can be in the mix regardless of the layout.

“So I think we can be confident wherever we go,” said the 23-year-old charger.

“I feel like we don’t have to rely on the high-speed circuits like we did last year to get our results, which is a very exciting thing to have going forward.

“I think the pecking order is as tight as it’s ever been, especially this weekend.

“Going into qualifying, I think we thought that there could be any one of four teams on pole, which I don’t think we’ve been able to say for a while.

“So, I think we can definitely be in the fight every weekend.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.