Piastri Labels Qualifying ‘Bizarre’ as Norris Surprises with Pole

Oscar Piastri described the qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix as “bizarre and somewhat frustrating” after his rival, Lando Norris, secured an unexpected pole position. Piastri, the current championship leader, will start from second on the grid, with Charles Leclerc in third. The qualifying took place on July 29, 2023, at the Hungaroring, where weather conditions shifted dramatically between the second and third qualifying sessions.

The final shootout for pole saw the McLaren drivers struggling to improve their lap times as clouds gathered and winds intensified. Piastri reflected on the experience, stating, “It depends where you’re sat. If you’re sat where Charles is, fantastic. If you’re sat where I’m sat, bizarre and somewhat frustrating.” He noted the significant change in conditions, which affected the performance of all drivers.

Piastri admitted that his initial lap felt subpar, attributing it to an attempt to push too hard, influenced by the earlier sessions. “My first lap felt terrible because I was pushing too much,” he explained. “Then I felt like I did a better job on the second lap of managing expectations, and it was even worse.” He emphasized the need to analyze the session further, acknowledging that the challenges were not unique to him.

Norris echoed Piastri’s sentiments when asked about his own qualifying performance. Starting from the second row alongside Leclerc, he remarked, “I’ll just copy and paste, yeah. Exactly the same.” He expressed disappointment that despite feeling confident in Q2, he could not replicate that success in Q3. “The wind has such big effects on the car when you’re driving,” he noted, indicating how environmental factors can significantly impact performance.

Despite the setback, starting in second place could work to Piastri’s advantage. He clinched his first Formula 1 victory at last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix from the same position. Looking ahead to the race on July 30, 2023, Piastri expressed optimism, stating, “It was good last year, so hopefully it can be good again this year.” He acknowledged the potential for rain, a factor that could influence race dynamics.

With the Hungaroring being a challenging track for overtaking, Piastri recognized the difficulty of regaining the lead once lost. “It’s not going to be the easiest place to try and regain the lead,” he concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive race.

As the drivers prepare for the final grand prix before the August break, all eyes will be on Piastri and Norris, who both aim to leverage their starting positions in a race where strategy and conditions will be crucial.