Sky Sports activities commentator Martin Brundle has made a giant name in Oscar Piastri‘s favour, saying the Australian has the “edge” over teammate Lando Norris after his faultless win in Miami.
Monday marked Piastri’s third consecutive grand prix win – the primary time in 28 years a McLaren driver has gained three grands prix in a row.
It’s the first time an Aussie driver has gained three races in a row since Alan Jones in 1980 and 1981.
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The Australian celebrity prolonged his lead within the Formulation 1 drivers’ championship with the victory and leads Norris by 16 factors within the standings.
“[He’s] undoubtedly received the sting over Norris on the subject of race craft,” Brundle mentioned of Piastri.
“Norris appears to have a fraction of an edge over tempo, however…Piastri is getting the job performed.
“He is getting strikes performed. He is not making errors. And he is getting victories.”
Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren celebrates the F1 Grand Prix of Miami. Getty
Brundle says Piastri’s consistency is what has been main the Aussie to continued success.
Jenson Button – the 2009 F1 world champion – echoed these sentiments, saying his “tempo was unbelievable.”
“Superb job by Oscar this weekend. As quickly as he will get within the lead he is formidable. He simply controls the race and it is extraordinary to observe,” Button mentioned.
Piastri began Monday’s race in fourth place however leapt to second within the first 4 laps.
He then took the lead on lap 14 when he overtook polesitter Max Verstappen.
By lap 18 he drove to an eight-second lead, and held it to complete forward of Norris with Mercedes driver George Russell taking an opportunistic last spot on the Miami podium.
Russell was capable of leapfrog Verstappen for third after he benefitted from the Digital Security Automobile, leaving the Purple Bull driver trying to find tempo and driving residence in fourth.
“I gained the race that I actually needed to,” Piastri mentioned.
“Yesterday was a tough day. The dash was what it was, however qualifying was most likely one among my trickiest classes of the yr, and to return away with a win nonetheless on Sunday (Monday AEST) is a powerful consequence.
“There was a little bit of argy bargy at flip one which helped me out a bit, after which I used to be conscious sufficient to keep away from Max coming by way of at flip one.
“The automobile was unbelievable as we speak.
“I feel in direction of the top I began to get issues a bit extra again beneath management… very proud of the win, very proud of the factors however always received to continue learning.
“Very completely satisfied to be leaving Miami on high.
“It is simply unimaginable, the onerous work that is gone in. I bear in mind two years in the past right here in Miami we had been genuinely the slowest group. I feel we received lapped twice.
“To now have gained the grand prix by over 35 seconds to 3rd is an unbelievable consequence and the onerous work of each single particular person – firstly the individuals right here on the monitor however everybody on the manufacturing unit as nicely.”
The win extends Piastri’s championship lead forward of teammate Norris. He has taken 4 of the season’s six race victories and appears to be the strongest contender for the drivers’ championship.
Norris began second on the grid subsequent to polesitter Verstappen, however misplaced three locations on the primary couple of laps after operating off the monitor attempting to make a transfer on Verstappen.
“He compelled me off… what am I meant to do, drive into the wall or one thing?” Norris mentioned on group radio.
McLaren group principal Andrea Stella admitted that the group got here into the Miami weekend with the quicker automobile in scorching situations and had been capable of maximise efficiency higher than the remainder of the grid.
“It proves that the automobile was very aggressive as we speak, nicely performed to [our drivers] for exploiting the efficiency that we have now out there within the automobile,” mentioned Stella.
“Particularly in scorching situations it appears like our race tempo is unquestionably very robust.”
In the meantime, younger Aussie driver Jack Doohan‘s race completed prematurely after a tangle and collison with Liam Lawson at flip one.
The 22-year-old’s race ended nearly instantly after it started on Monday morning because of a tyre puncture from the incident.
Lawson managed to get his automobile again on the monitor however Doohan was compelled off and his race was completed.
Doohan had certified for the primary time forward of his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly in 14th and Sky Sports activities commentator David Croft admitted it was “wretched luck” in Miami for the younger Australian.
