Australian Oscar Piastri was left ruing a missed opportunity at the Austrian Grand Prix after a late yellow flag disrupted his final qualifying lap.
Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris was in blistering form, putting his crash of a fortnight ago behind him with a monster pole position for Sunday night’s race.
Practically faultless, he was streets ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, with Piastri finishing third.
It’s likely the Aussie would have improved his time, but his chances were thwarted when Pierre Gasly spun out on the final corner in the closing moments of Q3, causing a yellow flag to be waved.
‘It was the fact I didn’t get to start it [his final lap], that was the problem I had,’ Piastri told Sky Sports.
‘Gasly spun at the last corner so I didn’t even open my second lap.
Oscar Piastri was left frustrated at the Austrian Grand Prix after a late yellow flag disrupted his final qualifying lap
Lando Norris dominated qualifying at Spielberg with a blistering performance
‘Lando has been very quick all weekend and it would have been a tough challenge, but I think we easily had enough pace in the car this weekend to be on the front row.
‘So always a shame when you don’t even get the chance but we can still have a good race from there.
‘It’s sometimes just not your day.’
Piastri’s frustration was evident when speaking on team radio directly after Gasly’s incident.
‘Oh mate, I don’t have time for another lap, do I? F**k me, man. Jesus Christ,’ he said.
Norris blew the field away with an inch-perfect lap and seems more focused than ever to close the gap on his teammate.
‘It was a good lap, that’s for sure,’ Norris said.
‘Very happy, a good day, a good weekend for me, so hopefully I can keep it up.
Oscar Piastri is currently leading the championship standings by 22 points
‘It is a long season. I savour this moment.
‘It is pleasing for myself, but it is a long race tomorrow.’
Piastri is currently leading the championship standings by 22 points, however he will need to navigate a competitive field to maintain his edge.