Oscar Piastri Admits Ferrari’s Points at Las Vegas Are ‘Not Ideal’

Ferrari’s Performance at Las Vegas

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri acknowledged that the points Ferrari scored at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix were not what his team had hoped for in the fierce battle for championship standings. However, he remained optimistic, stating, “It could have been worse.” Ferrari entered the race as strong contenders in Las Vegas, and while they didn’t claim victory, they managed to close the gap with McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship.

A Tight Race Between McLaren and Ferrari

The gap between McLaren and Ferrari now stands at just 24 points, indicating that the battle between the two teams may go down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Red Bull is also in contention, trailing Ferrari by 29 points. In such a competitive environment, every point becomes crucial, and drivers must push their performance to maintain an edge.

Ferrari Maximizes Their Opportunities

Despite Mercedes dominating every session during the Las Vegas weekend, they failed to secure the win. Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc capitalized on their opportunities, finishing in 3rd and 4th positions, respectively. On the other hand, McLaren’s duo, led by Lando Norris, could only secure 6th and 7th places. This result puts McLaren in a challenging position heading into the final two races of the season.

Challenges Ahead

After the race, Piastri explained that McLaren had anticipated a tough battle in Las Vegas. “We knew this could be a challenging track for us, and we expected Ferrari to be strong,” he said. “Of course, it’s not ideal that they scored more points than us, but we were prepared for this scenario.”

Looking Ahead to Qatar

Teams are now gearing up for the season’s final Sprint race in Qatar, a track that is considered well-suited to McLaren’s car, with its high-speed corners and flowing nature. Sainz admitted that he doesn’t expect to finish higher than 5th with Ferrari in Qatar, while Piastri hopes to avoid issues like the time penalty he faced in Las Vegas.

When asked about the penalty’s impact on his race, Piastri responded: “I don’t think it held me back much, but clearly, I had to work harder. It made the early and mid-race stages tougher, but I don’t believe it influenced the final result.” He emphasized that McLaren needs to improve their pace to remain competitive in the upcoming races.

A Bright Future for McLaren’s Duo

With challenges ahead, Piastri and McLaren are determined to prepare thoroughly for the season’s final races. The battle for the Constructors’ Championship promises to remain intense and captivating as teams fight for every point in the closing stages of the season.