Oscar Piastri has dismissed George Russell’s claim that McLaren’s current speed advantage over the field is greater than Red Bull’s has ever been, labeling it a “far-fetched” statement.
Russell made the comment after McLaren’s impressive performance in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris and Piastri locked out the front row. However, Piastri believes that Russell’s statement is exaggerated and that McLaren’s pace in Melbourne was an exceptional result rather than the norm.
“I think one of those statements is pretty far-fetched,” Piastri said when asked about Russell’s comment and Lando Norris’ assessment that the car’s behavior was posing a problem during the race. “I’ll let you decide which one!”
Piastri acknowledged that McLaren’s car was very strong in Melbourne, but he also emphasized that the team is not expecting to repeat that performance at every track. “It’s just one race, it’s been a track that’s been competitive for us the last couple of years, even when our car wasn’t as dominant as a Red Bull,” he said.
Piastri’s comments suggest that McLaren is taking a cautious approach and not getting carried away with their early-season success. The team will be looking to build on their strong start to the season at the Chinese Grand Prix, but Piastri’s comments indicate that they are aware that they will face challenges at different tracks.
In other news, the F1 community is mourning the loss of Eddie Jordan, who passed away at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Bernie Ecclestone paid tribute to Jordan, describing him as a “fighter and true racer.”
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