Australian driver Oscar Piastre scored enough points with a stunning victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday to send his McLaren team into the lead in the constructors’ world championship, overtaking Red Bull for the past two years. Has received this honor.
It was an assured performance from the 23-year-old who took his second win of the race and cemented his status as a rising star in Formula One. Meanwhile, his teammate Lando Norris who started 15th on the grid after failing to qualify salvaged his race weekend with a fourth place finish.
Crucially, Norris is fifth ahead of Max Verstappen, who once again finished 59 points behind the Dutchman and a maximum of 206 points. Still in the grip.
“I tried to get in front at the start of the race but once I got out of DRS I didn’t have the pace,” Piastre said in his post-race interview. “After the stop, I thought we were very close again and I felt we had a bit of extra grip and I had to go for it because I knew if I didn’t get through at the start of the stint I would never I will go get the past.
“So I took a huge limp but managed to pull it off and hang on for dear life for the next 35 laps… It definitely goes down as one of the best races of my career.”
He took the lead about a third of the way into the race, ambushing pole-sitter Charles Leclerc with a stunning long run on the inside that the Ferrari driver could not answer. They were locked in a tight battle for most of the race, with Piastri only running away in the final laps when Leclerc’s tires went flat.
The Monegasque driver, however, finished second as his Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez battled for position behind him and crashed into the wall, ending the race under a virtual safety car. done
Mercedes’ George Russell finished third as a result, while Perez and Sainz were forced to retire from the race.
“McLaren and Oscar have done a phenomenal job and done better than us,” Leclerc said in his post-race interview. “A big shame for Carlos on the last laps, hope everyone is OK and obviously not a good day for the team.”
Oscar Piastri’s Stunning Victory Boosts McLaren to Top of Constructors’ Championship
Australian driver Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clinching a remarkable victory that propelled McLaren to the top of the constructors’ championship, surpassing Red Bull, who had dominated for the past two years.
The 23-year-old Piastri’s win marked his second career victory, highlighting his rise as a Formula One star. His teammate, Lando Norris, also had a strong showing, finishing fourth after starting 15th on the grid due to a qualification mishap. Norris’s result is significant, placing him fifth in the standings, ahead of Max Verstappen, who ended up 59 points behind.
Piastri reflected on his race, saying, “I tried to get in front early, but once I was out of DRS range, I struggled with pace. After the pit stop, we were close again, and I felt a bit of extra grip. I knew I had to push hard at the start of the stint to make a move.” Piastri’s aggressive strategy paid off as he took the lead about a third of the way through the race, overtaking pole-sitter Charles Leclerc with a decisive move. Leclerc finished second as his tires wore out towards the end, and Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez crashed, ending their races under a virtual safety car.
George Russell from Mercedes claimed third place, while Perez and Sainz were forced to retire. Leclerc expressed disappointment but acknowledged McLaren’s superior performance, stating, “McLaren and Oscar have done a phenomenal job.”
