Piastri accidentally taunts Gasly: 'Fighting for a win is nicer than a point'

F1 News

Piastri jokes with Gasly about winning races rather than a single point
7 June at 16:00
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  • Sophia Crothall

McLaren have returned to the front of the grid, and are confidentally fighting for race wins. Since the Chinese Grand Prix, the team have consecutively featured on the podium in either first or second place. With their new found success, Oscar Piastri looks ahead to winning more races, and reflects on the progress the team has made since they last raced in Montreal. 

In the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix, both McLaren drivers failed to score points. However, this year looks set to be different, with the constructor sitting third in the Constructors championship. During Thursday's press conference, the Australian driver was asked what it feels like to now be in the mix for podiums and wins. "It's always more exciting when you're fighting at the front," he said. "That's what we're all here for. I'm very fortunate that I have the opportunity to be able to be in that position. We're all here because we've been successful leading into F1 and we all want to win. It is very exciting having that opportunity."

Piastri then compared the team's 2023 performance to this season. "Last year there were points where we could get a podium, but a win was never realistic, I would say. Whereas this year, a win is certainly on the cards. And I would say the last few weekends, with a few things going slightly differently, there's been a lot of potential."

Piastri taunts Gasly

Whilst sitting next to Pierre Gasly during the press confernece, the McLaren driver accidentally taunted the Frenchman when commenting on the feeling of fighting for a podium rather than a single point. Although McLaren sit third in the table, Alpine are in ninth, with both Alpine drivers scoring a single point each this season. "When you go into a weekend knowing that you can fight for a win, it's a bit nicer than knowing that you should be trying to fight for a point. That was us 12 months ago. I guess I know already what it's like to be in both positions, but I think we all know which position we'd rather choose," Piastri added.