McLaren Components 1 driver Oscar Piastri has defined why he feels his second-place end on the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix meant greater than half of his race wins.
The nine-time grand prix winner arrived on the Japanese race weekend on the again of a torrid begin to the season. On the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, additionally his dwelling race, he crashed on the reconnaissance laps and so was unable to start out the 58-lap marketing campaign. On the second spherical in China, each he and his team-mate Lando Norris confronted electrical points earlier than the race.Â
With solely three factors scored within the Chinese language dash race, he had work to do in Japan. Now, with 21 factors after the primary three rounds, Piastri sits sixth within the drivers’ standings.Â
Reflecting on the rostrum throughout an interview on the Excessive Efficiency podcast, the Australian driver defined: “Suzuka this yr, for instance. You take a look at it within the historical past books in 10 years, and it will say, ‘OK, I completed second and at this level I’ve gained 9 F1 races.’ However actually, I’d in all probability put that second place increased in my record of private achievements than in all probability 50% of these wins that I’ve had thus far.
“As a result of I do know that I did not go away something on the desk in that weekend. I bought absolutely the most out of myself in apply. I bought very near absolutely the most in qualifying. I bought absolutely the most out of the race, and we had been fast sufficient to complete second.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
“Me and the automotive and the group, that was all we had. And once more, the historical past books will say I bought crushed by 15 seconds. However that is the place our sport is a little bit bit humorous and the place you need to be very disciplined in specializing in the precise issues as a result of once more, I left that weekend happier than I in all probability left half the races I’ve gained in my profession.
“That is a very huge, vital issue for me, ensuring you permit each weekend figuring out that you have executed completely every little thing you can, no matter whether or not you’ve got gained the race, whether or not you completed tenth, whether or not you completed fifteenth, even.
“So long as you possibly can go away the weekend figuring out that I did completely every little thing I might in my management, that is adequate for me.”
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