Piastri Reflects on Baku GP Setback: 'Certainly Took Me by Surprise'
Oscar Piastri had a promising start at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, only to see his hopes dashed by a costly lock-up. Despite the setback, Piastri remains optimistic about the positives from his performance.
McLaren's weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was anything but smooth, as both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris walked away without any points. Piastri, reflecting on the race, admitted that a lock-up, which scuppered his chances of a podium finish, caught him off guard.
The Australian had a strong start during the 51 laps around Baku's picturesque streets, even managing to overtake Ferrari's Charles Leclerc for second place at the first corner. However, maintaining his position proved to be a challenge as he faced pressure from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, who were both in a hurry.
After pitting under the first of two Safety Cars, Piastri held onto second place, but his luck turned when Verstappen surged past him at the restart, relegating him to third. The drama continued with another Safety Car triggered by a collision involving his teammate, Norris. Once racing resumed, Piastri found himself under threat from Hadjar again.
Piastri initially managed to fend off Hadjar but, in a bid to defend his position into Turn 1, he locked up and ended up in the run-off area, dropping down the order. "Just disappointed," Piastri said post-race. "The first stint was encouraging, but it all unraveled from there. The lock-up took me by surprise, and I need to understand what happened."
The 2026 season has been a mixed bag for Piastri, with only two podiums to his name, the last one in Miami. Meanwhile, Norris has been more successful, securing two wins in the last five races. Despite the missed opportunity, Piastri sees light at the end of the tunnel. "I think once the dust settles, there are a lot of positives from this weekend," he noted. "Qualifying was good, and I felt more direction with the car. It hurts not to have points, but there are plenty of positives."
Piastri's reflections suggest he is taking the setback in stride, aiming to build on the progress made in Baku. As he continues to fine-tune his performance, McLaren will no doubt be hoping for a return to form in the upcoming races.