Piastri's early boost as he defends title lead in Spain

The Advertiser

2 days ago

He faces a battle to retain his pole position in the world championship race but Australia's Oscar Piastri has shown he is up for the fight after setting the pace in practice for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Piastri scorched around Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, leaving McLaren teammate and nearest challenger Lando Norris back in fourth place.
It was a statement of intent from Piastri, whose championship lead had been reduced to just three points after Norris held firm to win last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Defending a shrinking lead brings a mental challenge of its own but Piastri talked a good game when, before practice, he discussed the situation with reporters in McLaren's motorhome at the track.
He said: "Ultimately we want to be fighting for a championship, beating everyone on the grid.
"And if you've got someone there pushing you, then whilst that gives you some challenges at times as a team and as a driver, it also increases your level, which is ultimately what you want."
His intent was clear as he lapped in a quickest time of 1 minute 12.760 seconds to eclipse Norris, who had earlier set a best of 1:13.718 in first practice, where Piastri had finished fifth.
Red Bull's Max Max Verstappen, last year's winner, was second and third respectively in the sessions. Mercedes' George Russell was Piastri's closest rival in practice two, 0.286 slower.
Verstappen, who took his first F1 win at the circuit in 2016, missed some 20 minutes of the first session with mechanics working to change his car's rear suspension.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who has won a record-equalling six times in Spain, was third on the timesheets in practice one but only 11th later on when teammate Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest. "The car is not driveable, mate," said Hamilton.
Friday was the first sighting of the new front wings required to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate indication of any significant change.
"I think it's going to take more than one session to see if there is an impact. Or if so, how it's affected the different cars," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"It didn't sound from the drivers' comments too different to a normal Friday."
Horner also aired his views on McLaren's top two. "You have got to say that McLaren have to be favourite, they have looked incredibly strong throughout the early races.
"We have got to make sure to keep in touch, and to beat them you have to start taking points off them."
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest in practice two with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso seventh and Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth.
With agencies
He faces a battle to retain his pole position in the world championship race but Australia's Oscar Piastri has shown he is up for the fight after setting the pace in practice for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Piastri scorched around Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, leaving McLaren teammate and nearest challenger Lando Norris back in fourth place.
It was a statement of intent from Piastri, whose championship lead had been reduced to just three points after Norris held firm to win last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Defending a shrinking lead brings a mental challenge of its own but Piastri talked a good game when, before practice, he discussed the situation with reporters in McLaren's motorhome at the track.
He said: "Ultimately we want to be fighting for a championship, beating everyone on the grid.
"And if you've got someone there pushing you, then whilst that gives you some challenges at times as a team and as a driver, it also increases your level, which is ultimately what you want."
His intent was clear as he lapped in a quickest time of 1 minute 12.760 seconds to eclipse Norris, who had earlier set a best of 1:13.718 in first practice, where Piastri had finished fifth.
Red Bull's Max Max Verstappen, last year's winner, was second and third respectively in the sessions. Mercedes' George Russell was Piastri's closest rival in practice two, 0.286 slower.
Verstappen, who took his first F1 win at the circuit in 2016, missed some 20 minutes of the first session with mechanics working to change his car's rear suspension.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who has won a record-equalling six times in Spain, was third on the timesheets in practice one but only 11th later on when teammate Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest. "The car is not driveable, mate," said Hamilton.
Friday was the first sighting of the new front wings required to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate indication of any significant change.
"I think it's going to take more than one session to see if there is an impact. Or if so, how it's affected the different cars," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"It didn't sound from the drivers' comments too different to a normal Friday."
Horner also aired his views on McLaren's top two. "You have got to say that McLaren have to be favourite, they have looked incredibly strong throughout the early races.
"We have got to make sure to keep in touch, and to beat them you have to start taking points off them."
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest in practice two with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso seventh and Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth.
With agencies
He faces a battle to retain his pole position in the world championship race but Australia's Oscar Piastri has shown he is up for the fight after setting the pace in practice for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Piastri scorched around Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, leaving McLaren teammate and nearest challenger Lando Norris back in fourth place.
It was a statement of intent from Piastri, whose championship lead had been reduced to just three points after Norris held firm to win last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Defending a shrinking lead brings a mental challenge of its own but Piastri talked a good game when, before practice, he discussed the situation with reporters in McLaren's motorhome at the track.
He said: "Ultimately we want to be fighting for a championship, beating everyone on the grid.
"And if you've got someone there pushing you, then whilst that gives you some challenges at times as a team and as a driver, it also increases your level, which is ultimately what you want."
His intent was clear as he lapped in a quickest time of 1 minute 12.760 seconds to eclipse Norris, who had earlier set a best of 1:13.718 in first practice, where Piastri had finished fifth.
Red Bull's Max Max Verstappen, last year's winner, was second and third respectively in the sessions. Mercedes' George Russell was Piastri's closest rival in practice two, 0.286 slower.
Verstappen, who took his first F1 win at the circuit in 2016, missed some 20 minutes of the first session with mechanics working to change his car's rear suspension.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who has won a record-equalling six times in Spain, was third on the timesheets in practice one but only 11th later on when teammate Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest. "The car is not driveable, mate," said Hamilton.
Friday was the first sighting of the new front wings required to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate indication of any significant change.
"I think it's going to take more than one session to see if there is an impact. Or if so, how it's affected the different cars," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"It didn't sound from the drivers' comments too different to a normal Friday."
Horner also aired his views on McLaren's top two. "You have got to say that McLaren have to be favourite, they have looked incredibly strong throughout the early races.
"We have got to make sure to keep in touch, and to beat them you have to start taking points off them."
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest in practice two with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso seventh and Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth.
With agencies
He faces a battle to retain his pole position in the world championship race but Australia's Oscar Piastri has shown he is up for the fight after setting the pace in practice for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Piastri scorched around Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, leaving McLaren teammate and nearest challenger Lando Norris back in fourth place.
It was a statement of intent from Piastri, whose championship lead had been reduced to just three points after Norris held firm to win last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Defending a shrinking lead brings a mental challenge of its own but Piastri talked a good game when, before practice, he discussed the situation with reporters in McLaren's motorhome at the track.
He said: "Ultimately we want to be fighting for a championship, beating everyone on the grid.
"And if you've got someone there pushing you, then whilst that gives you some challenges at times as a team and as a driver, it also increases your level, which is ultimately what you want."
His intent was clear as he lapped in a quickest time of 1 minute 12.760 seconds to eclipse Norris, who had earlier set a best of 1:13.718 in first practice, where Piastri had finished fifth.
Red Bull's Max Max Verstappen, last year's winner, was second and third respectively in the sessions. Mercedes' George Russell was Piastri's closest rival in practice two, 0.286 slower.
Verstappen, who took his first F1 win at the circuit in 2016, missed some 20 minutes of the first session with mechanics working to change his car's rear suspension.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who has won a record-equalling six times in Spain, was third on the timesheets in practice one but only 11th later on when teammate Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest. "The car is not driveable, mate," said Hamilton.
Friday was the first sighting of the new front wings required to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate indication of any significant change.
"I think it's going to take more than one session to see if there is an impact. Or if so, how it's affected the different cars," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"It didn't sound from the drivers' comments too different to a normal Friday."
Horner also aired his views on McLaren's top two. "You have got to say that McLaren have to be favourite, they have looked incredibly strong throughout the early races.
"We have got to make sure to keep in touch, and to beat them you have to start taking points off them."
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest in practice two with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso seventh and Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth.
With agencies