Formula 1 had a positive sign for McLaren in the Japanese GP qualifying, with Oscar Piastri securing third place on the grid. The Australian highlighted the team’s evolution and stated that the gap to Mercedes is closing.
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Even acknowledging that it is not yet possible to go head-to-head with the German team, the driver made it clear that the performance in Suzuka represents an important step forward. McLaren achieved its first top-three start of the season.
Piastri finished just behind the Mercedes 1-2, with Kimi Antonelli on pole position and George Russell in second. The gap to Russell was only 0s056, an indication that the British car is more competitive.
After the session, the driver evaluated the result as positive within the current scenario. “Qualifying has been reasonable this year, but it’s good to be in the top three. I think this weekend we showed a good performance,” he stated.
Despite the progress, he reinforced that there are still limitations. “We still don’t have enough pace or grip to match Mercedes, but we are getting closer, and that is the most important thing,” he highlighted.
Consistent performance throughout the session was also decisive for the result. Piastri explained that the team managed to evolve throughout the qualifying phases, even without an ideal start in Q1.
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“We executed well. We weren’t as strong in Q1, but in Q2 we managed to find the pace and maintain that until the end,” he said.
The Australian also commented on the final attempt in Q3, which did not go as expected. Still, he considered the team’s overall work satisfactory. “The last lap was a bit messy, but overall we did a good job,” he added.
Another point highlighted was the battle with Ferrari, which also showed good performance in Suzuka. At one point, Piastri believed the Italian team could fight for pole position.
“There was a moment when I thought Ferrari would be on pole, so it was a very balanced qualifying. I’m happy to finish ahead of them,” he stated.
With third position on the grid, Piastri puts McLaren in a strategic position for the race in Suzuka, reinforcing the perception that the team is starting to close the gap to Mercedes in Formula 1.
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