Oscar Piastri believes his love of Spa-Francorchamps performed a job in him being comfortably quickest in Dash qualifying forward of the Belgian Grand Prix.
McLaren opted for the next downforce setting that provides the automobile good efficiency within the corners by means of the center sector, however barely much less high velocity within the first and final sectors. It was an strategy that labored for Piastri as he was almost half a second away from Max Verstappen, and 0.6s forward of teammate Lando Norris, in a dominant Dash qualifying show.
• Sprint qualifying report: Piastri blitzes field again
“It was an excellent lap,” Piastri mentioned. “A little bit scared in SQ2 with the lap deletion [for exceeding track limits at Raidillon], however the automobile’s been mega all day and I really feel like I have been capable of put in plenty of good laps. So due to the group, the automobile’s been nice and it is a monitor I like.
“It is my favourite one of many yr and, I do not know, perhaps that gave me a few further tenths! But it surely’s at all times good enjoyable round right here and when the automobile’s dealing with in addition to it’s right this moment, it is a pleasure.
“The automobile has been in an excellent window from lap one and it is a monitor I at all times get pleasure from coming to. I do not know why, however I believe I’ve had good confidence. I really feel like the previous couple of weekends have been good from a tempo perspective, however not a lot from a outcomes perspective, so it is good to get a outcome for that.”
Whereas the margin was massive within the last lap occasions, Crimson Bull took the alternative strategy to McLaren, with Verstappen notably fast within the first and third sectors. That makes Piastri weak to assault firstly on Saturday, one thing he’s cautious of given the influence of a slipstream early on.
“I have to go and look. The Crimson Bulls have been very fast in a straight line in observe – I do not know if that was the identical in Dash qualifying, however that makes life tough and Spa might be the worst monitor to have pole place at, so let’s have a look at. However I believe the tempo within the automobile is basically sturdy and I’ve felt good right this moment, so hopefully we are able to have an excellent day tomorrow.”
