Following a breathtaking Austrian Grand Prix where Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were thrown off the track, Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz both found themselves unexpectedly on the podium. However, the McLaren driver had hoped for more: “I was so close to victory.”
Oscar Piastri started the race from only P7 due to a track limit penalty in the qualifiers. His promising third starting position evaporated, leaving the Australian ruminating after the race. Especially since he ended up less than two seconds behind the winner, George Russell. “Well, what if…”, begins Piastri. “This is only my fourth podium in Formula 1, but I was so close to victory. So, this podium spot does sting a bit. Hopefully, we can compete at the front again next week in Silverstone.”
Carlos Sainz was clearly more cheerful with his third place. “It was an exciting race at the front of the field,” reflects the Ferrari driver. “I was mainly trying to follow George, as we knew Mercedes would have a slight advantage in terms of race pace. In the end, Oscar suddenly came up very fast, so I had to settle for third place. Ultimately, this is a good result, especially considering how difficult this weekend was for us.”
