Piastri disappointed with P8: 'Yesterday's mistake cost me today'

Oscar Piastri will start his first Dutch Grand Prix from eighth position. The Australian crashed in the second practice session on Friday and did not drive a lap in dry conditions since that crash until Q3. Piastri argues that this crash caused the difference in the final part of qualifying.

"Just struggled a bit, really. Yeah, didn't really put a good lap together, and I think paid the price a little bit for not getting the laps in yesterday," Piastri began in front of GPblog. The McLaren driver had not yet done a single lap on the soft tyres before Q3.

"I think from eighth, we need a lot of luck this weekend," Piastri replied when asked if the podium is achievable. "Clearly, the car is quick. It is very encouraging for the team that we can come to another quite different circuit with a mix of high speed and low speed, a bumpy circuit and where we're still strong. That's very encouraging for the team, very encouraging for me, but I think for me, it's just going to be about trying to make up a few spots if we can. I think around here, it's so difficult to overtake. I think if we move forward, that'll be a good result for us."

Fellow countryman Daniel Ricciardo crashed just after Piastri in the second free practice session. In the process, Ricciardo broke a metacarpal. "Obviously, I hope he has a speedy recovery. It's never nice to see somebody get hurt. I know he had the choice of hitting me or the wall, so I'm thankful he chose the wall, but yeah, I just hope he recovers quickly, and we see him back on the grid."