During pre-season testing in Bahrain, Pedro De La Rosa revealed something concerning to Damon Hill regarding Oscar Piastri’s McLaren.
When the 2024 Formula One season gets underway on Thursday, the 20 drivers will be eager to get back on the track after three demanding days of racing at the Bahrain International Circuit….Read more…
While previewing the season’s opening race on the F1 Nation Podcast, Damon Hill, Pedro De La Rosa, Natalie Pinkham, and Tom Clarkson talked about their expectations for the upcoming campaign.
Damon Hill is worried about what he’s heard about Piastri during testing. Let’s hope McLaren can carry over their incredible performance from the end of 2023 into this year.
After they carried their modifications to Austria, only Max Verstappen scored more points than Lando Norris, and he was excellent aside from a few problems in qualifying.
Oscar Piastri, a rookie who had an instant impression on the rest of the grid, seemed to push Norris farther.
The teenage driver’s Sprint Race in Qatar will always be remembered, and Ralf Schumacher has said that he “never makes a mistake.”
Even while McLaren is in a lot better position now than it was a year ago, they still have problems.
Damon Hill has acknowledged that the rumors he’s heard about Piastri running during testing in Bahrain have him concerned.
Jolyon Palmer thinks he has identified the team’s weak point after extensively observing the play in Bahrain.
Sakhir has never been McLaren’s strongest circuit, and this weekend it may be once more.
McLaren is still resolving Issues ahead of the 2024 season.
De La Rosa stated, “It didn’t look like an easy car to drive out there,” in reference to the MCL38. It was evident to me that there was fighting between the drivers as I peered around the curves.
The car was undoubtedly difficult to drive, especially when I watched Oscar [Piastri] on his short runs on day three. He was attempting to put together a lap time and was getting off at turn 11 on the exit.
“They had to fight it a little more, even though they were moving quickly.”
De La Rosa’s remark did not inspire Damon Hill, who retorted, “Yes, that is a little concerning.”
This year, McLaren hopes to gain a slight advantage thanks to a few unique pieces on their car.
De La Rosa’s testing appraisal of Piastri doesn’t scare Hill too much because McLaren rarely has high expectations going into Bahrain.
They have never won in Bahrain and had a double DNF in the 2004 Sakhir race.
Examining their position in relation to their competitors following the first five races makes much more sense.
In addition to the flurry of improvements they make each year, which usually provide them an advantage in the middle of the season for most campaigns.