The McLaren driver had to fight for much of the race for the last podium position with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in Montreal, but in the end he could not stop them and finished fifth.
The Australian acknowledged that His hopes of getting on the podium faded in the final laps.when the Mercedes clearly showed that they had more pace and overtook him.
Asked how close he had been to the podium, Piastri replied: “Pretty close until I got behind the Mercedes, and then I realized they were on a mission.”
“I think it would have been very difficult to keep them behind until the end, especially being the first car in danger. I did everything I could to stay ahead, but I think with the new tires they were much faster than the others.”
The step forward that Mercedes has taken in Canada It was the result of a new front wing that they debuted for the first time at the Monaco Grand Prix.
But his full potential was only demonstrated in Montreal, when he was able to show amazing pace, especially in training and in the early stages of qualifying.
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38
Photos: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
When asked If he was surprised by how fast Mercedes was, Piastri said: “I think the fact that they were fast wasn’t a big surprise. I think the fact that they were so fast was.”
“In FP3, with the return of Lewis [la mejor de la sesión], we were scratching our heads. I think we realized why after the session, but during the session, we were never going to get close to it. Even in Q2, when George did 11.7 and I did 12.1 or 12.2, I wasn’t going to find that half a second. So I think they’ve been very quick this weekend.”
“So, yes, maybe it was a stronger weekend for them, but it wasn’t totally unexpected. I think in Monaco they seemed very strong at certain points. And yes, I think this weekend they were quite strong,” he added.
Piastri tried to contain the Mercedes duo and He was involved in a small friction with Russell in the final chicane on lap 63 with a movement that forced his rival to go into the escape.
Asked for his assessment of the incident, Piastri responded: “I need to look at it a little more. I think it’s an incredibly difficult corner to take. And, yes, you have to be very brave to go on the outside.”
“In the end he overtook me anyway. So I don’t think it changed the result, but I hope it was entertaining,” concluded the Australian Formula 1 driver.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, with his engineers on the grid before the race.
Photo: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
