Piastri Sets Third on Grid Amid Qualifying Struggles in Monaco
In a tumultuous qualifying session for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured a third-place start, despite a series of wall encounters that characterized his weekend. Piastri’s performance, marked by multiple brushes against the barriers, underscored the inherent challenges of navigating the streets of Monte Carlo.
Piastri commenced the event with a setback, colliding head-on with the barriers at Sainte Devote during practice, a misstep that set a precarious tone for the sessions that followed. His struggles continued in qualifying, where each lap featured frantic moments as he clipped the walls. After the session, the Australian driver reflected on a “messy” weekend, stating, “I think I’ve hit more walls this weekend than I have in my whole career, so it’s been untidy.”
Despite these challenges, Piastri expressed satisfaction with his qualifying run, noting that he felt more at ease during the session. “To come out with this result is a decent effort,” he added.
Starting tomorrow’s race behind compatriot Lando Norris—who claimed pole position—and local favorite Charles Leclerc, Piastri remains hopeful. “I think to beat Lando today was going to be tough, so well done to him. It’s been a pretty messy weekend so far, so to come out with a lap that I thought was pretty good in third is a decent result.”
As the drivers face a new two-stop rule in the race, Piastri aims to leverage the strategy to navigate the tight confines of the circuit, where overtaking opportunities have always been scarce.
