Piastri says McLaren can 'mount a challenge' to Red Bull for a title

F1 News

oscar piastri on mclaren challenging red bull for a title in 2024
23 May at 16:25

After the last two races in Miami and Imola, there is a growing belief that the 2024 season could be a competitive and enthralling one. With Lando Norris and McLaren taking victory at the Miami Grand Prix, they pushed Max Verstappen and Red Bull all the way to the finish line at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, finishing just a second behind the Dutchman.

Oscar Piastri was able to finish in P4 in what was a solid result for the Australian, highlighting that McLaren with their newly upgraded car can fight at the front of the grid this season. And with Norris taking the fight to Verstappen in the last two races, there is speculation as to whether this competitive racing can continue for the remainder of the season.

Piastri believes McLaren can 'challenge' Red Bull for a title in 2024

Speaking to the media, including GPblog, at the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, Piastri commentated on the chances his team has to take a title back to the factory in Woking. "In the Constructors it's possible to mount a challenge if both of us are scoring good points week in, week out. But again, it's been two weekends that we've been able to fight for a win. We need to make sure that we can do that consistently first. And if you do that, then naturally the championship kind of starts to come towards you. So we'll focus on being quick first, and then we'll see what results we can get," said the Australian.

But even with his teammate already winning a race this year and coming so close to a second in Imola, Piastri is not too confident on his chances to challenge for the world title: "I don't think so this year. I think it's going to be very, very tough, especially for the Drivers' Championship. I don't even know where I am. I'm a long way behind, so I'm not focusing on that at all."

However, Piastri knows he is performing very well behind the wheel of his papaya-coloured car. "I think the last two weekends have been very strong for me, Imola in particular. Miami, there are a couple of things I feel like I could have done a bit better. But Imola, I felt was a very good weekend from start to finish from the first lap of practice to the last lap of the race. And we finished fourth. So sometimes that's just how it goes."