Oscar Piastri admitted McLaren have been in all probability “too optimistic” about their possibilities earlier than Mercedes dominated qualifying for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Dwelling hero Piastri certified fifth, forward of McLaren teammate and reigning world champion Lando Norris, however greater than eight tenths three seconds behind George Russell, who set an eerie tempo en path to pole place in Melbourne.
Piastri was the quickest to complete Friday’s observe, however admitted he was shocked by the overwhelming benefit Mercedes loved when it got here to qualifying.
Requested if he was shocked by the hole to Mercedes in qualifying, Piastri replied: “Sure.”
“I feel yesterday in all probability painted a very optimistic image for us, however we felt like we have been within the combine, however after FP3 we positively did not really feel like we have been within the combine.
“After FP3, the most important factor was straight-line pace. I do not know if it is the identical after qualifying, however I feel that is clearly one thing we have to perceive.”
Piastri added: “I feel our fascinated about the state of affairs was that everybody was fairly shut after which Mercedes bought to the entrance and the remaining have been fairly shut.”
“The most important factor for me was that we did not appear to achieve a lot, or definitely all through qualifying, it appeared like we did not achieve a lot. I do not know if it was the automotive or the motive force.
“Definitely, the way in which we’ve to try to go sooner is advanced. It is clear that the way in which we naturally wish to go sooner does not work, however maybe we must always attempt to rein it in additional or think about that.”
Though not as crucial as Norris or Max Verstappen, Piastri was not fully optimistic concerning the new rules both.
When requested if he loved driving the brand new technology F1 automotive, Piastri considerably sidestepped the query and replied: “Probably not.”
“I feel everybody can see the state of affairs. It is the identical as we imagined,” he added.
“At different tracks, you are going to have a unique problem as a result of the monitor falls into two classes: when it is energy-depleted and when it is energy-rich. And there is a downside with both of these. However I feel while you’re energy-depleted like this, it is extra apparent to everybody watching.
“I do not know what Mercedes laps are like, however we have been lifting and coasting 3 times a lap. We had two tremendous clips for the entire lap. And in some corners we have been successfully down 450 horsepower.”
