Oscar Piastri believes his love of Spa-Francorchamps performed a task in him being comfortably quickest in Dash qualifying forward of the Belgian Grand Prix.
McLaren opted for the next downforce setting that provides the automobile good efficiency within the corners by means of the center sector, however barely much less prime velocity within the first and final sectors. It was an method that labored for Piastri as he was almost half a second away from Max Verstappen, and 0.6s forward of teammate Lando Norris, in a dominant Dash qualifying show.
• Dash qualifying report: Piastri blitzes area once more
“It was a very good lap,” Piastri mentioned. “Somewhat scared in SQ2 with the lap deletion [for exceeding track limits at Raidillon], however the automobile’s been mega all day and I really feel like I have been capable of put in a number of good laps. So due to the group, the automobile’s been nice and this can be a monitor I like.
“It is my favourite one of many 12 months and, I do not know, perhaps that gave me a few additional tenths! But it surely’s all the time good enjoyable round right here and when the automobile’s dealing with in addition to it’s at present, it is a pleasure.
“The automobile has been in a very good window from lap one and it is a monitor I all the time take pleasure in coming to. I do not know why, however I feel I’ve had good confidence. I really feel like the previous couple of weekends have been good from a tempo perspective, however not a lot from a outcomes perspective, so it is good to get a outcome for that.”
Whereas the margin was huge within the remaining lap occasions, Crimson Bull took the alternative method to McLaren, with Verstappen notably fast within the first and third sectors. That makes Piastri susceptible to assault firstly on Saturday, one thing he’s cautious of given the influence of a slipstream early on.
“I have to go and look. The Crimson Bulls have been very fast in a straight line in follow – I do not know if that was the identical in Dash qualifying, however that makes life troublesome and Spa might be the worst monitor to have pole place at, so let’s have a look at. However I feel the tempo within the automobile is de facto sturdy and I’ve felt good at present, so hopefully we are able to have a very good day tomorrow.”
