As his workforce mull their technique for the remaining eight race weekends of the season, Oscar Piastri has stated he’s targeted McLaren persevering with its scorching streak as they shut in on defending champions Pink Bull.
What appeared early in 2024 to be one other dominant season for Pink Bull and three-time drivers’ championship winner Max Verstappen, has became a real three-way battle for the constructors’ title.
Pink Bull holds a slender eight-point lead over McLaren within the race for the constructors, with Ferrari simply one other 31 factors adrift.
In the meantime, Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris has clawed his deficit to Verstappen within the drivers’ championship to 62 factors, however missed out on narrowing it additional final day trip at Monza.
From pole, Norris misplaced out to Piastri earlier than McLaren was outdone strategically by Ferrari, who guided Charles Leclerc to a race win that regarded sure to be secured by the Australian.
As hypothesis surrounds whether or not McLaren will provoke workforce orders to desire Norris for the remaining eight weekends this season, Piastri stated he was targeted on enhancing and securing extra important championship factors heading into this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“We’ve not been to a road circuit in a number of months and Baku all the time throws up some fascinating races and alternatives,” he stated within the lead-up to this Sunday’s race.
“I am optimistic about what we will do as a workforce with the automotive now we have. The upgrades have been working effectively and it’s clear that we’re aggressive in any respect kinds of circuits.
“We have been securing a whole lot of factors in every race, and hopefully, this weekend can be no totally different.”
After being effectively crushed by Piastri and lacking out on important championship factors final day trip in Monza, McLaren is believed to be mulling what technique they make use of because the season reaches its climax.
Piastri scored essentially the most factors of any in the course of the European leg of the F1 season, however is simply too far adrift from being a practical challenger for the drivers’ championship.
McLaren and Norris will must be near-perfect to beat the 62-point lead Verstappen has, regardless of the McLaren lately being a lot faster than the Pink Bull.
Norris has stated the drivers’ championship is effectively inside his sights, an ambition additionally shared by his workforce.
“My engineers and I went over our efficiency in Monza, and located methods the place we will do higher, each from my facet and as a workforce,” he stated.
“Our objective is evident. I’ve each religion within the workforce to maintain working and enhancing.
“Now with each championships on the desk, we’re extra decided than ever. I am pleased with the workforce and may’t wait to see what we will do that weekend.”
