Over the course of this season, there have been weekends where Oscar Piastri needed time to extract the maximum from the car. The Dutch Grand Prix was one example, with Lando Norris leading from the first free practice session on Friday through Q2 on Saturday afternoon. When it counted, however, Piastri delivered a decisive performance. Austin appears to be a similar type of weekend, but unfortunately for Oscar, the Sprint qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) began in earnest yesterday. The result: Piastri in third, four tenths off pole-sitter Verstappen and three tenths behind teammate Norris.
There was no mistake to justify the gap, a point Oscar Piastri himself acknowledged. He admitted that he lost time at various points and described his Q3 lap as somewhat “messy,” unable to find the perfect rhythm. Yet, he considered himself somewhat lucky to end up third.
The championship leader will now aim to limit damage over the 19-lap Sprint, a race in which taking unnecessary risks makes little sense—although a strong start at Austin is always possible. Maintaining third place under the checkered flag would cost Oscar Piastri only one or two points to Norris.
Afternoon qualifying will carry much higher stakes. Oscar Piastri noted that the positive aspect is his awareness of the car’s pace, while acknowledging that overall, the day was not disastrous, only slightly chaotic on a single lap he hopes to improve for Grand Prix qualifying. His third place drew more attention than Norris’s second due to the gap. For Lando, it’s a mixed feeling: pleased with the internal team comparison but disappointed to miss pole.
Norris commented that being on pole would have been ideal, but starting behind Red Bull is no longer a surprise—it has been a recurring theme in recent races. Overall, he is fairly satisfied, believing there is still some room for improvement. He noted that hitting some bumps imperfectly is a track-specific challenge, requiring a balance to achieve a competitive setup. Austin is a track where finding perfect comfort is almost impossible.
The U.S. weekend could be a pivotal moment for Norris. Sprint qualifying confirmed that Max Verstappen and Red Bull will remain strong contenders for victories in all remaining races, placing additional pressure on McLaren.
If Max continues his streak against the papaya duo, Norris will need to reduce the 22-point gap to Oscar Piastri as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the team could face the dreaded scenario of favoring one driver over the other for championship reasons—a decision that might not favor him.
Zak Brown explained that while it’s impossible to predict the future, Verstappen’s proximity in the standings keeps McLaren alert. A poor weekend could shift the scenario quickly, as seen at the Dutch Grand Prix, where Norris’s retirement highlighted how unpredictable races can be.
Brown added that the team is approaching the season race by race, with the current goal being a one-two finish. Recalling last year’s Baku GP, when McLaren attempted to support Norris but race events led to Oscar Piastri’s victory, he emphasized the sport’s unpredictability. For now, both drivers will be given equal opportunities to compete for the Drivers’ Championship.
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