Piastri has no regrets: Final flyer in Q3 ‘the best I could have done’

In a heart-stopping qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri came tantalizingly close to pole position, missing out by a mere 0.01 seconds to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The Australian driver, however, expressed no regrets, believing he had extracted every ounce of performance from his McLaren in a chaotic Q3 session interrupted by teammate Lando Norris’ crash.

Piastri’s early banker lap, set just before a red flag, kept him in contention, but Verstappen’s unconventional two-lap strategy ultimately secured the top spot.

The final segment of the session was marked by high drama, with Norris’ early exit at Turn 4 triggering a red flag that reshaped the final runs.

Piastri, who had already posted a competitive time, opted for a single-lap strategy in the closing moments, a decision he stood by despite the narrow defeat.

His performance underscored McLaren’s strong pace, but Verstappen’s surprise pole – achieved with a bold two-run approach involving a pit stop for fresh tires – highlighted Red Bull’s knack for defying expectations, reminiscent of their Japanese Grand Prix triumph earlier in 2025.

A Lap at the Limit

Piastri was straightforward about the quality of his final lap, describing it as the best he could have delivered.

“There wasn’t much more left in that lap,” commented the Aussie, quoted by Speedcafe.

“I’m happy with the job I did. I think it was playing catch-up a little bit through the first part of qualifying and then that last lap felt more or less like the best I could have done.”

Reflecting on the session’s challenges, he noted a small error on his first Q3 attempt.

“I made a bit of a mistake on the first lap and managed to get through [Turn 4] much better on the second attempt.

"When you need one hundredth, you can think of a few places. It was a good lap that I was happy with. That was pretty much all we had.”

On McLaren’s decision to forego Red Bull’s two-run strategy, Piastri explained the team’s reasoning.

“We spoke about it, yes, but decided against it,” he said. “Considering I had a lap on the board, I didn’t need to put another one on. It was going to be extremely tight.

• Read also: Norris seeking ‘to put a plan in place’ for Jeddah race after Q3 bust

“[Verstappen] had to fuel for the whole run. That first lap on used tyres with a bit more fuel, you’re weighing up how much you’re learning versus how much it puts you off. When you don’t have a lap on the board, it’s a very different scenario.

“We decided to go for that single lap at the end, and I think for us, it was the right decision.”

The McLaren driver’s confidence in the call reflected a measured approach, prioritizing a clean, single effort over the risks of additional runs.

Looking Ahead to the Race

Piastri remained optimistic about McLaren’s race prospects, drawing comparisons to the high-speed demands of Suzuka, where Red Bull also excelled.

“Suzuka is not a completely different layout to somewhere like here with a lot of high-speed corners, so it kind of makes sense to me at least that they’re a bit more competitive, and we’ll see if that translates to the race tomorrow,” he noted.

He nevertheless highlighted Jeddah’s unique characteristics as a potential advantage.

“I’m feeling confident in what we’ve got,” he added. “There’s a lot of DRS zones around here, which is a nice difference to Suzuka.

“So, yeah, let’s see if we can make some progress.”

While Norris’ P10 grid slot complicates McLaren’s championship fight, Piastri’s confidence and flawless lap signal a driver ready to seize any chance to claim victory in Sunday’s high-stakes race.

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