The Japan Times - Cool Piastri plays down prospects of more McLaren domination

The McLaren driver, who has opened up a 16-point lead ahead of team-mate Lando Norris in the drivers’ title race, said he expected a more difficult race than in Miami two weeks ago.

Piastri and Norris finished that race in hot conditions more than 30 seconds clear of third-placed George Russell of Mercedes.

"I think with the hotter temperatures there and given some of the sessions we’d had earlier in the season, we thought it might play more to our strengths – and I think Sunday proved that," he said.

"I’m not expecting that to be the case every weekend!

"I would love it to be the case, but I think with those hotter conditions and that circuit characteristic -- I think it will be difficult for us to repeat that result consistently."

Speaking at an official news conference, he added: "We've got very soft tyres this weekend, so maybe that will help us, but it's obviously a lot cooler than it was in Miami. The track is also incredibly different -- much bumpier and much higher speed in general.

"I expect the competition to be closer than it was in Miami. We saw in qualifying that the competition was on our heels and ahead of us."

Mercedes' teenage Italian driver Kimi Antonelli took pole for the sprint race and four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull took pole for the Grand Prix.

"We still have to make sure we go out and execute everything as well as we can because if we falter a little bit, we've got plenty of competition that can beat us."

After six ‘flyaway’ races, the F1 circus will race in the first European race of the year and the first of a triple-header on Sunday with Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari hoping to reduce McLaren's 105 points lead.

For Piastri it represents a stiff test of his world championship credentials after winning four of the opening six races.

Asked how much he is enjoying his success, the unflappable Australian said: "It’s pretty hard to say that I'm not, when you’ve won four out of six. It’s been a great start to the year, obviously.

"I've been enjoying the success we’re having on track, but I think, for me, what's been very satisfying is all the work we've done behind the scenes to achieve that.

"It's quite a different feeling when you win a race because you feel like you've just got by or you had good circumstances.

"But to be winning now because we have an incredibly quick car and I feel like I'm driving well that’s very satisfying for me."

His weekend began with a bonus when he collected the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy awarded for 'commendable performance' in 2024 when he helped McLaren claim the constructors’ championship.

The award is made by a panel of 12 former F1 staff and journalists and made each year on the eve of the Imola weekend.

K.Tanaka--JT