Not McLaren, but Red Bull takes pole position in Silverstone. This comes as a slight disappointment for the team from Woking, which has been performing strongly this weekend. Oscar Piastri ultimately qualifies as the fastest McLaren driver in P2, just behind Max Verstappen.
“My first lap in Q3 was really mega,” Piastri says after the session. “I tried to go even faster, but my last lap was a bit messy. The competition has been incredibly close all weekend.”
However, the Australian is satisfied. McLaren has been experimenting extensively to find speed, and it seems to be paying off. “The car feels good, but there are a few points we’re still scratching our heads about why we’re not faster there. But we’re in shape and it could be a very interesting race tomorrow.”
Although he’s disappointed to have missed the pole, Piastri remains realistic: “You think you’re driving a good lap, but maybe I was just a bit too cautious. In the end, I’m happy with P2.” The championship leader promises a thrilling battle tomorrow: “It’s all even between us, Max, the Ferraris, and George. We all have our strengths. For instance, Red Bull is fast on the straights, while we’re fast in the fast corners. It’s going to be fun tomorrow.”
