Oscar Piastri is quietly optimistic over McLaren’s chances for the Spanish Grand Prix but admits he holds one fear and also backs one rival Formula 1 team to be ‘stronger’.
The pinnacle of motorsport makes possibly one of its final visits to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend. F1 will move the Spanish GP from the Montmelo track to Madrid in 2026. McLaren will hope to enjoy a better week than the team endured at the 2023 edition.
Piastri finished his debut Spanish GP in 13th place as a rookie with McLaren last year. Lando Norris could also only manage P17 after contact with Lewis Hamilton at the start into Turn 1 required a new front wing. Both McLarens qualified well with Norris in P3 and Piastri in P10.
Oscar Piastri backs Red Bull to be ‘stronger’ with McLaren’s advantage clipped
McLaren will expect to qualify near the front for the Spanish GP this weekend having scored more points than any other team in the past four rounds. Since Norris won the Miami GP, he took P2 in the Emilia Romagna GP and the Canadian GP and Piastri got P2 in the Monaco GP.
Their efforts have given McLaren 116 points to the 106 that Red Bull have registered and the 101 that Ferrari have earned. But Piastri predicts Red Bull will pose a ‘stronger’ threat at the Spanish GP after struggling with the kerbs in Monaco and seeing Sergio Perez crash twice.
READ MORE: Five unforgettable Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona including Senna vs Mansell
Piastri also fears that McLaren have lost some of their advantage in high-speed corners. The Woking squad have enjoyed the most well-rounded car in recent rounds. But Mercedes also joined the party at the Canadian GP when their new front wing rounded off their upgrades.
“I think Red Bull will probably be a bit stronger than they have been but I think we’ll be in the fight,” Piastri said, via quotes by Speedcafe. “I think we can still be confident, definitely.
“I wouldn’t say we’re weak in high-speed [corners], it’s just that others have probably caught up a little bit. So, we’ll see. I think I’m pretty comfortable with somewhere towards the front, as well.”
Ferrari will hope to follow Mercedes in reducing Red Bull and McLaren’s advantage
Mercedes pushed both Red Bull and McLaren at the Canadian GP as George Russell secured pole position. He also finished behind Max Verstappen and Norris for the Silver Arrows’ first podium of the year. Hamilton also finished in fourth place, with Piastri coming home in fifth.
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Their new front-wing Mercedes initially unveiled at the Monaco GP unlocked the pace their upgrades since the Miami GP delivered. Ferrari will now hope to join the fight for the win at the Spanish GP with the Scuderia ushering in a big upgrade package in Barcelona this week.
Ferrari might further enlarge Piastri’s fears that McLaren have lost some of their advantage in high-speed corners. But the Maranello outfit are prioritising slow-speed corners with the team taking a new floor plus rear bodywork and ramps towards their diffuser to Montmelo.
The post ‘We’ll see’: Oscar Piastri admits McLaren fear with F1 tipped to be ‘stronger’ at Spanish GP appeared first on F1 Oversteer.