Even at the third Grand Prix of the still young season, McLaren could present the rear of the competition. Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri are the top favorites for the racing victory on Sunday (7 a.m. CEST/LIVE on ORF 1) in Japanese Suzuka.
And the two McLaren also set the pace in the first training sessions on Friday. Norris leads in the World Cup, Piatri is fourth, but only ten points behind his teammate. Norris won in Melbourne, in China Piatri – succeeding in Japan?
Mama Piatri chats
Norris has an equal colleague in Piatri who goes to work calmly. His mother wonders himself via Oscar Piatri. Specifically about his stoic calm, about his ice-cold species. “Each of his features is calculated. I have never experienced that he has taken a risk without thinking about it,” said Nicole Piatri once about her racing team, who has the potential for the Formula 1 world champion in the McLaren.
“He is unique.” This is what most mothers say about their sons. If you follow Mama Piatri on the intelligence service X, you learn to understand Oscar better. He is a stoic, steadfast and consistent, especially with regard to his Formula 1 career. And quite a few experts trust the Australian the big coup this season.
The second unit in Suzuka was chaotic on Friday because newcomer Jack Doohan got off the Suzuka Circuit at high speed and crashed into the route limit with his alpine. The red flag and a demolition were the result. Not enough, the circuit even caught fire a little later. The lawn began to burn next to the racetrack, there were quickly route posts with fire extinguishers, the training was released again. But then the flames blazed again and there was finally the red flag.
All eyes were initially focused on local hero Yuki Tsunoda, which will be launched for Red Bull Racing for the first time this weekend after the cockpit exchange with Liam Lawson. And Tsunoda immediately left a significantly better impression than its predecessor, was only slightly slower than world champion Max Verstappen.
Sergio Pérez Plaudert
Meanwhile, his former teammate Sergio Pérez has commented on the current developments at Red Bull Racing and in particular emphasized the challenges that the car brings with it. The Mexican emphasizes that this has already been problematic for most drivers in the past and sees it a central factor for the difficulties that he has experienced in recent years.
“Especially in the last year I couldn’t show what I can do as a driver,” says Pérez. “Now you suddenly notice how difficult the car is to drive.” After only two races at Red Bull, the team decided to send Liam Lawson back to Racing Bulls after the New Zealander had problems. Pérez: “When I came to Red Bull, great drivers like Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly had already had to fight with it before”, Perez feels subsequently confirmed.