Piastri sees Turn 1 improvement as crucial factor in Barcelona pole

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Oscar Piastri suggested that significant improvements in the first half of his blistering lap in Saturday’s Spanish Grand Prix qualifying went a long way towards helping him secure his fourth career pole in F1.

After trailing his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by just 0.017s following the opening runs in the sizzling shootout, the Australian lit up the timing screens on his final attempt, nailing a critical first sector and stitching together a lap that combined precision with nerve.

The Australian driver’s final flyer, clocked at 1m11.546s, outpaced Norris by a whopping 0.209s – the largest pole margin of the season.

Unlocking the Lap

“I improved quite a lot in Turn 1, actually,” Piastri revealed afterward. “Then there were a couple of other places in the lap where I've been struggling a bit all day.

“I don't know if I necessarily did better, but it all just came to me, mainly in the first half of the lap and in the second half I could just about hang on.

“It wasn't the perfect lap, but I think around here, with the tyres going off so much through the lap, it's very tough to do that.”

What made the result even sweeter was the context: just a year ago, Piastri started the same race from 10th on the grid after having a lap time deleted for track limits.

Now, he’ll lead the field away from the front row, firmly in the hunt for the 2025 world championship.

Redemption and Resurgence 12 Months On

The pole marks a remarkable turnaround from the struggles at this weekend’s venue in 2024 — something not lost on Piastri.

“Last night, we found some pace,” he said. “Today, the car has been mega and I feel like I've been able to put in some good laps as well.

"So thank you to the team for all the hard work. This was a pretty miserable scene 12 months ago, so to have turned it around in the best way is a great result.”

Read also: McLaren locks out Spanish GP front row as Piastri beats Norris

Adding a bit of flair to the intra-team rivalry, Piastri had earlier chuckled on team radio about Norris picking up a “cheeky” slipstream on the first Q3 run – a move he insisted wasn’t coordinated by McLaren.

But any mind games or aerodynamic advantages mattered little by the end, as Piastri produced the lap of the session when it counted most.

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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.