Piastri's Bahrain Gp: What Really Happened?

Oscar Piastri's debut in the Bahrain Grand Prix was challenging and eventful. The 21-year-old Australian, who endured a year on the sidelines as a reserve driver for Alpine, faced a tough test in his first Formula 1 race, finishing 12th in the morning practice and 15th out of 20 in the afternoon session. Piastri's McLaren came off the track, but he managed to get through the practice sessions unscathed. He started the race in 18th position after a difficult qualifying session, and his teammate Lando Norris finished 11th. Despite the challenges, Piastri expressed satisfaction with his progress and looked forward to the race.

Oscar Piastri's McLaren came off the track in Bahrain

Oscar Piastri's debut in Formula One racing got off to a challenging start in Bahrain. The 21-year-old Australian driver, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren, experienced some early wobbles on the track. During the morning session, Piastri lost control of his car on turn seven, briefly leaving the track, but he regained control and reported that the car was "all okay."

In the afternoon session, which featured conditions more similar to those he would face during the race, Piastri faced another obstacle when Lance Stroll's slow-moving Aston Martin appeared in the middle of the track. Piastri avoided a collision by swerving to his right, but this caused him to lock up and run off the track at the first turn. Despite these setbacks, he was able to finish the sessions with his McLaren intact, placing 12th in the morning practice and 15th out of 20 in the afternoon.

Reflecting on his debut, Piastri acknowledged that he was "not 100 percent happy" with his driving but felt he was making progress. McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella expressed confidence in Piastri, noting that it was his first time on the track and emphasizing the importance of getting familiar with the car.

Piastri's qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix did not go as hoped. He started the race in 18th place after encountering some difficulties. A red flag stopped the qualifying session early, compromising his performance. Despite the challenges, Piastri maintained a positive attitude, recognizing that he had much to learn in his first Formula One season.

He finished 18th in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri's debut for McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix got off to a challenging start. The Australian driver, who had an illustrious junior career with three successive championships, faced early difficulties with his McLaren coming off the track during practice. However, he managed to get through the sessions without any significant issues.

Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix proved to be a difficult experience for Piastri. He finished 18th out of 20 drivers, failing to advance past the first qualifying stage (Q1). A red flag stopping the qualifying session early compromised his performance, but even with a clean run, he was off the pace. Piastri acknowledged that he "didn't nail it on the second set of tyres."

Despite the setback, Piastri remained positive and focused on the long season ahead. He and his team planned to do their homework and improve their performance. His teammate, Lando Norris, fared slightly better, finishing 11th.

The McLaren team faced lowered expectations and challenges with their new car, which affected Piastri's debut. Despite this, he maintained his excitement about finally achieving his Formula 1 dream.

Piastri's teammate Lando Norris finished 11th

Oscar Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris finished 11th in the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying. Norris, who was in his fifth season on the grid, had hoped for a better result and lamented that McLaren had slipped down the pecking order.

Norris barely made it to Q2, posting the same time as Logan Sargeant but progressing because he had lapped earlier than the Williams rookie. He was unable to make it to the top 10 shootout, finishing 11th.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirmed that the team was not where they wanted to be during qualifying. Norris himself said that he was "'reasonably happy' with the result, but that there was room for improvement. He added that it was a "'tough qualifying' and that he had gotten 'everything out of the car.'

Norris' frustration with the car was evident when he reportedly punched a wall in Bahrain as the limitations of the new vehicle became apparent.

The Australian had a challenging and eventful F1 debut

Piastri himself acknowledged that he was "not 100 per cent happy" with his driving and that there were "some improvements to find". However, he also felt that he was "making progress" and was "enjoying his first official Friday as an F1 driver".

McLaren CEO Zak Brown was not concerned by the margin between Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris, stating that Piastri "needs to get his racecraft going" and that there was "no concern at all". McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was also pleased that both Piastri and Norris got through the practice sessions without issue.

Piastri's debut was highly anticipated given his successful junior career, which included three successive championships and rookie titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2. However, commentators noted that his prior success would count for little once the lights went out in Bahrain. It was predicted that Piastri would have around six months to prove himself as F1 material before risking being turfed out.

Piastri's manager Mark Webber has been criticised for choosing McLaren

Oscar Piastri's manager, Mark Webber, has been criticised for choosing McLaren as the team for Piastri's debut in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Piastri, who spent several years with the Alpine F1 Academy, had his future decided by the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) as both McLaren and Alpine claimed they had a valid contract with the young driver. The CRB ruled in favour of McLaren, and Piastri negotiated with the Woking-based squad while carrying out reserve driver duties for Alpine.

Webber, a former Red Bull driver, has been accused of putting his own interests ahead of Piastri's by choosing McLaren. There have been rumours of a clause in Piastri's contract that prevents McLaren from enforcing team orders, which could hinder their chances of winning the World Championship. Guenther Steiner, former Haas team principal, has urged McLaren to negotiate with Webber to ensure Piastri supports his teammate, Lando Norris, in the championship race.

Webber has defended his decision, stating that McLaren was the only choice available to them. He expressed frustration at Piastri not racing last year, acknowledging that the young driver missed out on valuable experience. However, Webber praised McLaren's efforts in securing Piastri, stating that they now have "two phenomenal drivers."

Despite the criticism, Piastri made a successful Formula 1 debut with McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix, finishing 12th in morning practice and 15th in the afternoon session.

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