Oscar Piastri was denied a potential pole position at the F1 Austrian Grand Prix after Pierre Gasly spun in the final moments of qualifying, preventing him from completing his last flying lap. The incident occurred at the Red Bull Ring, where yellow flags stopped Piastri from improving his time, forcing him to start Sunday’s race in third place.

Piastri’s final lap was compromised as he was trailing behind Charles Leclerc and already held a gap of around half a second to McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who was quickest among the contenders. Gasly’s spin at the last corner brought out caution flags, which hindered Piastri from setting another competitive lap.

It was the fact I didn’t get to start it that was the problem,

Piastri explained.

I had Gasly spin at the last corner so I didn’t even open my second lap. Lando has been very quick all weekend so 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.

Always a shame when you don’t even get the chance but we can still have a good race from there.

Piastri Aims Higher Than Third in Sunday’s Race

Heading into the race, Piastri holds a 22-point lead over Norris in the drivers’ championship. However, his recent points advantage arises more from Norris’ errors than a clear pace edge, as Norris has been running McLaren’s updated front suspension, unlike Piastri, who chose to stick with the previous setup. The Australian described the revised suspension as feeling “different” but not definitively faster.

The pace shown by both McLarens throughout the weekend has been strong, and Ferrari’s unexpected competitiveness adds to the challenge Piastri faces, particularly in trying to overtake Leclerc at the start of the race. Despite these challenges, Piastri remains optimistic about his race prospects and ambitions.

I am not planning on finishing third that’s for sure.

He noted that the team still has opportunities to exploit during the race and is confident in their pace compared to Ferrari’s.

Upcoming Race Importance for Title Battle

The outcome of Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring is expected to have a significant impact on the ongoing championship battle between Piastri and Norris. Both McLaren drivers will be eager to maximize points, with Piastri especially motivated to convert his grid position into a strong result that can extend his championship lead.

With the Austrian Grand Prix coming after notable performances, the weekend could shape the momentum for McLaren during the season. Piastri’s resilience despite qualifying setbacks highlights his determination to challenge for victories and maintain pressure on his closest rivals.