McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri lamented a rare mistake that cost him dearly in Saturday’s chaotic qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Australian, who crashed at Turn 3 in Q3, will start Sunday’s race from a disappointing ninth on the grid after admitting he pushed “a little bit too hard” in pursuit of pole position.
The session, plagued by rain, gusty winds, and multiple red flags, saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claim pole ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.
“A little too hard”
Piastri, who has been near-flawless so far this season, immediately owned up to his mistake although he hinted at the light drizzle that emerged at the end of qualifying as a possible aggravating factor.
“I think I just braked a little bit late,” he said. “I’ve not seen any data but that’s normally what happens when you end up locking a brake, it’s a bit late.
“Disappointing obviously, I felt like the car was in a good place, but a disappointing way to end.
“The first two corners were really good and then, I don’t know if I tried a bit too much or [because] the rain has been around. There were some corners on the out lap that felt a bit tricky, but I don’t know if that was one of them.
“Ultimately I need to go and have a look but I think just a case of trying a little bit too hard and paying the price.”
The incident marked Piastri’s first major misstep since his off at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and it leaves him with a recovery job in Sunday’s race.
Focus Shifts to Damage Limitation
The McLaren driver’s teammate Lando Norris didn’t fare much better, qualifying only two places ahead of Piastri in seventh. That result has softened the blow for the Aussie, but he admitted a victory fight from ninth on the grid is likely out of reach.
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“I think the win is ambitious but let’s wait and see,” Piastri added. “I think we can definitely make progress. The car has been quick this weekend and hopefully we can use that to make progress.”
With Max Verstappen on pole, Carlos Sainz delivering a shock front-row start for Williams, and Liam Lawson in third for Racing Bulls, Piastri faces a mixed-up grid full of opportunity – but only if he can keep it clean on Sunday.
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