Piastri's thrilling chase at Zandvoort GP™
Monday, 26 August 2024
Piastri's podium near-miss at Zandvoort
Oscar Piastri narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, crossing the line in fourth place after a challenging race at Circuit Zandvoort. The Australian rookie showcased his growing confidence and skill, making steady progress throughout the event despite facing some unexpected hurdles.
Starting from third on the grid, Piastri lost a position at the start, settling into fourth place as the race got underway. His teammate Lando Norris stormed to victory from pole position, highlighting the strong pace of the McLaren package at the Dutch circuit.
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As the race unfolded, Piastri demonstrated his ability to manage his tyres and maintain consistent lap times. The McLaren pit wall made a strategic decision to extend his first stint, giving him clean air to push in before pitting for hard tyres on lap 33.
Piastri's stint on the hard compound proved to be a turning point in his race. With fresh rubber, he was able to close the gap to George Russell ahead. On lap 39, the Aussie made a decisive move, overtaking Russell to claim fourth position.
With his sights set on the podium, Piastri began to close in on Charles Leclerc. However, the dirty air from the Ferrari ahead proved to be a significant obstacle. Despite his best efforts, Piastri was unable to find a way past Leclerc, ultimately finishing the race in fourth place.
Reflecting on his performance, Piastri said, "Some great points for the team, especially with Lando's win, but a little bit disappointing on my side. I made some good progress, but I got stuck in the dirty air behind the Ferrari, who had more pace than we were expecting, so I couldn't maximise the points on my side."
Despite the frustration of missing out on a podium finish, Piastri remained optimistic about the team's prospects for the remainder of the season. "However, we've got a quick car, so the next part of the season is going to be pretty fun. I am looking forward to it," he added.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella praised Piastri's performance, noting that the young driver was "unlucky to finish just outside the podium places" and had been "caught in dirty air for a long period of the race, which limited his forward progress."
As the Formula 1® circus moves on to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Piastri will be keen to build on his strong showing at Zandvoort and challenge for his first podium finish in Formula 1®.
Oscar’s Grand Prix by the numbers
- Qualified: 3rd
- Race: 4th
- Fastest lap: 1m14.237s on Lap 36
- Points this event: 12
- Points this season: 179 (4th)
