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Feeling as if his runner\u2019s-up finish at the Japanese Grand Prix was \u201cas good as a win\u201d, a buoyant Oscar Piastri predicts rejuvenated McLaren can still cause headaches this season for Formula One\u2019s dominant Mercedes pacesetters.<\/p>\n
Enjoying what he hailed as \u201cone of my best weekends in F1\u201d in Suzuka, Piastri demonstrated with his second-place behind Mercedes\u2019 teen ace Kimi Antonelli \u2013 which might have been even better if not for an unfortunately-timed safety car \u2013 that constructors champions McLaren are back in business.<\/p>\n
So is the 24-year-old Australian driver after finally managing to get off the start line in the season\u2019s third race and rocket up the leaderboard to sixth \u2013 even if he\u2019s still 51 points adrift of the youngest-ever championship leader, 19-year-old Antonelli.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it wasn\u2019t quite enough for the win, but at the moment a result like today is as good as a win for us,\u201d enthused Piastri to reporters an hour after he\u2019d told his team jovially over the radio: \u201cTurns out when we start these things, we\u2019re pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed, he was very good, from the moment he got off to a rocket start to grab the lead from third on the grid all the way through his terrific defence in an entertaining duel with George Russell\u2019s faster Mercedes.<\/p>\n
Certainly, there was little surprise when he ended up being voted driver of the day, even ahead of the precocious Antonelli.<\/p>\n
![\"His](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12163186d18f5221e1fc31dc26d3670936ebdd56.jpeg\")
His second-place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix has restored Oscar Piastri\u2019s confidence.Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cAs race weekends go, we couldn\u2019t have done any better than that,\u201d said Piastri, as even his world champion teammate Lando Norris, who only finished fifth, was happy to agree it had been a \u201cstrong\u201d few days for McLaren.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy with the performance that I put in, very happy with the performance from the whole team. The strategy was good, I think we just nailed everything,\u201d added Piastri.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this was probably one of my best weekends in F1. In the race there wasn\u2019t anything more we could have done. We got a good start, the pace was good, and I felt like I was strategic or smart with how I used the boost and how I managed that side of racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the safety car (which enabled Antonelli to take advantage of a cheap pit stop after Piastri had already boxed) was a shame, but I think as race weekends go, we couldn\u2019t have done any better than that.<\/p>\n
![\"Teen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b892d51a458143a00d303b9407787460aa43856d.jpeg\")
Teen prodigy Kimi Antonelli is making a mark for Mercedes early in the 2026 season.AP<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a long way to go, but we showed that if we get everything as good as we can get it, then we can cause a few headaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Victorian was the toast of his team, with McLaren team boss Andrea Stella having praised Piastri\u2019s attitude at the weekend after his horror start to the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on what we have seen in testing, in practice, in qualifying, based on his overall attitude and mental strength, I think we are seeing the best version of Oscar, the strongest Oscar since he\u2019s been in Formula 1,\u201d said the Italian.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally well done to Oscar.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLaren will now be hoping to build on their encouraging Suzuka comeback with an unexpected five-week gap, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi grands prix, to work on improvements before F1 returns to action in Miami at the start of May.<\/p>\n
But, in contrast to Piastri\u2019s positivity, four-time world champion Max Verstappen will continue to weigh up his future over the break and remainder of the season.<\/p>\n
Verstappen reiterated after the Japan GP \u2013 where he finished eighth \u2013 that has not ruled out retiring at the end of 2026, saying he is trying \u201cvery hard\u201d to enjoy racing under the new changes implemented this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrivately I\u2019m very happy,\u201d Verstappen, 28, told the BBC after the race. \u201cYou also wait for 24 races. This time it\u2019s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you\u2019re not enjoying your sport?\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if this could be his final season, Verstappen replied, \u201cthat\u2019s what I\u2019m saying\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be here to have fun and have a great time and enjoy myself. At the moment, that\u2019s not really the case,\u201d he added. \u201cOf course I do enjoy certain aspects. I enjoy working with my team. It\u2019s like a second family. But once I sit in the car it\u2019s not the most enjoyable, unfortunately. I\u2019m trying. I keep telling myself every day to try and enjoy it. It\u2019s just very hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774829770_701_7a86e955c0be9edb07977f60905eefc972ed251a.jpeg\")
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