Piastri clawed his way to fifth place despite the sweltering heat and brutal tyre wear that plagued the Marina Bay circuit, salvaging vital points for McLaren.
The tale of the puncture and the pass
A sudden loss of pressure forced an extra pit stop, but the fresh tyre handed him the edge needed to chase down Lewis Hamilton and pull off a daring final‑lap pass.
“P5. That was a hot and tough one. Overall, it felt like a reasonable race,” Piastri said after the checkered flag. “The puncture was a shame, but I think fifth place was the maximum we could have done today.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
He relished the late‑race duel with the seven‑time champion, calling it a highlight of his weekend.
“We didn’t quite have the pace to challenge Red Bull and the Ferraris, although being able to get that final position from Lewis made it worthwhile, and it was a fun way to finish the race,” he admitted. “It was a reasonable chunk of points for the team, so thank you for their hard work.”
A brutal reality check for McLaren
While pleased with his comeback, he echoed teammate Lando Norris and boss Andrea Stella’s worries about McLaren’s lack of raw speed.
“Across this triple‑header, I’ve definitely felt much more comfortable in the car, which has been a real positive, but we need to be honest — we clearly aren’t quick enough at the moment,” Piastri stated bluntly.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
With Mercedes and Red Bull racing ahead after recent upgrades, he warned the squad urgently needs an aerodynamic answer before the United States Grand Prix in Austin. For my money, McLaren must overhaul its aero package.
“If we want to be fighting for podiums and wins, we need a decent step forward to close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes,” the Australian concluded. “We have work to do, but I am confident we can do it. I’m looking forward to a short break, before we head into the final swing of the season.”
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– The Team