Piastri says Monaco podium is ‘not all bad’ as he reflects on ‘tricky’ weekend
Oscar Piastri conceded that if finishing third in the Monaco Grand Prix is considered a bad weekend then “it’s not going too badly at all” as the McLaren man holds a slim lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
The Australian claimed his second podium in succession on the streets of Monte Carlo, but never seriously featured for the win as he followed home teammate and victor Lando Norris, as well as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Piastri endured a difficult build-up to Sunday’s race, suffering a head-on collision with the barrier at Sainte Devote in FP2 and glancing the armco at several points in Qualifying, which left him on the second row of the grid.
“The win would have been better, but it’s been a bit of a tricky weekend,” said Piastri.
“Practice was messy all the way through and I felt like I got into Qualifying with not a lot of confidence with how the weekend was going and I got close but not quite close enough.
“Around here where you qualify is pretty much where you’re going to finish, so pretty happy with that overall.
“Obviously some things to look at for when we come back next year but some more points on the board, another trip to the podium in Monaco so it’s not all bad.”
Piastri’s podium, his seventh of the season, means he remains in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship but his margin, which stood at 13 points ahead of the event, has been slashed to just three with Norris’ victory.
With round nine of the season taking place next weekend in Spain, Piastri believes he will come back stronger on what was still a productive weekend in the Principality.
“If this is a bad weekend then it’s not going too badly at all,” said Piastri.
“Some things to work on, we’ll go again next weekend and try and come back stronger but well done to Lando, he’s had a great weekend and well done to Charles as well, he’s been quick as usual.”
