Piastri stated: “The automobile is an evolution from what we had final yr. There’s some issues which might be totally different, however there’s numerous issues that also do the identical factor as final season.
“From my facet, I really feel like I’ve taken a step ahead throughout the board. There’s not been one particular factor that I attempted to work on from final yr. It is simply been looking for these final tons of of a second wherever you possibly can, and that is been making a distinction.
“I’ve nonetheless misplaced out on a couple of poles by a couple of hundredths of seconds, so I nonetheless have some extra digging to do, however that is been the large distinction for me to date.
“There are nonetheless some issues we’re making an attempt to iron out as a group. The automobile is clearly very fast, nevertheless it’s not all the time the simplest to get the tempo out of, however that was the case typically final yr.”
He stated he was “proud and glad” to have been in a position to claw again the deficit he confronted after ending ninth in Melbourne, the place an off-track second led to him being caught on moist grass for almost a minute.
“The championship lead is sweet however I am rather more proud and glad of the work and the explanations behind why I am main the championship than truly the truth that I’m main the championship,” he stated.
World champion Max Verstappen didn’t attend media day on Thursday as a result of his companion Kelly Piquet is because of give beginning to their first little one.
A Pink Bull spokesperson stated: “All is effectively. We won’t offer any additional remark presently in respect in the direction of the privateness of Max and his household.”
The four-time champion is due in Miami for apply on Friday.
