Piastri secures another podium at the Qatar Grand Prix

In a race marked by strategic maneuvers and unexpected challenges, Oscar Piastri delivered a commendable performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, securing his eighth podium of the season. The Lusail International Circuit, known for its demanding layout, witnessed Piastri overcoming early setbacks to finish in a strong third position.

Starting the race in a promising position, Piastri initially lost ground, dropping to fifth place. However, his resilience shone through as he skillfully navigated past Charles Leclerc to reclaim fourth place following a Lap 1 Safety Car. The race's dynamics continued to evolve with another Safety Car deployment on Lap 35 due to debris on the track. This incident reshuffled the pack but Piastri managed to maintain his position, eventually benefiting from a penalty to his teammate Lando Norris, which elevated him to third place.

Norris, who had a strong start overtaking George Russell for second place, faced a major setback with a 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow for Yellow Flags. This penalty saw him rejoining the race in 15th place, although he fought back valiantly to finish in the top ten, setting the Fastest Lap in the process.

Reflecting on his performance, Piastri shared, "I am happy with that. I enjoyed the race and it’s a mega track, so it’s nice to come away with another podium. There were some good battles on track, but it was challenging as the cars at the front seemed to have very similar pace to each other. It was tough to get into DRS, and then far enough into DRS to overtake but it was still fun, nonetheless. We were just unlucky with the timing of the Safety Car, but that’s racing. It’s going to take everything we’ve got to seal the deal next week. It’s going to be an exciting one."

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The team principal, Andrea Stella, also commented on the race's outcomes, highlighting both drivers' performances and the impact of the race incidents. "Oscar drove a solid race but was unlucky with the timing of the Safety Car, which dropped him behind Leclerc, but that’s the way it goes sometimes in racing. Lando was very fast, and the way he clawed his way back into the points after the penalty was impressive. It isn’t the result we wanted overall, but it is what we have."

As the F1® season nears its climax, Piastri's latest podium adds to his impressive rookie year tally, showcasing his potential and resilience in the face of intense competition. The team now looks forward to the final race in Abu Dhabi, determined to end the season on a high note.

Oscar’s Grand Prix by the numbers

• Qualified: 4th
• Race: 3rd
• Fastest lap: 1m23.218s on Lap 51 (+0.834s, 3rd)
• Points this event: 15
• Points this season: 291 (4th)