Piastri says McLaren hasn't 'underestimated' Red Bull's all-around strength

Of course, McLaren secured their first race victory this season in Miami, the first since Daniel Ricciardo's 2021 Monza triumph. Despite this, they've lost out to Red Bull on multiple occasions. Most recently, in Spain, where Lando Norris finished just two seconds behind Verstappen on an alternate strategy after losing the lead at the first corner. Oscar Piastri, who finished seventh at the Spanish Grand Prix, told GPblog and others that his team won't underestimate Red Bull's operational ability.

Have McLaren underestimated Red Bull?

Oscar Piastri struggled more than his teammate at the Spanish Grand Prix, as the Australian scored six points compared to his teammates' 19. In the paddock in Austria, Piastri explained how McLaren hasn't, and won't underestimate Red Bull due to their all-around strengths, even though they don't have the quickest car. "I don't think we ever underestimated how strong they are operationally. I think their pit stops have always been probably the best in the paddock. We set the world record. But they've always consistently been incredibly strong on that. Strategy, they've always been very strong on that. Even if we had a car as quick as them, it was going to be tough to beat them, which is proving to be the case, I guess. So yes, maybe some people underestimated just how strong they are everywhere. But we certainly didn’t." Explained Piastri, whose highest finish of the season was second at the Monaco Grand Prix.

McLaren 'on top' of Spanish GP set-up issues

Piastri was unable to fight with his teammate at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya and struggled with his car throughout the weekend. For the second leg of the triple header in Austria, the young Australian is feeling more confident. "I think in terms of set-up differences, it's never major things. And even some of the set-up decisions we made were not major things but had consequences that led to further decisions. Suddenly a small difference can become quite big, I would say. So we had the whole team working on trying to sort it out. And I think it's probably the first time there's been such a big difference like that. I think we're all pretty confident that we've gotten on top of it. And looking forward to starting on the front foot this weekend, hopefully." Concluded the McLaren driver.