![\"Piastri](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/XPB_1410760_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri is hopeful rain could spice things up in the race in Canada. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri is hopeful rain could spice things up in the race in Canada. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Piastri backed up his fourth-place finish in the sprint race by qualifying fourth for Sunday\u2019s grand prix, with teammate Lando Norris taking third behind Mercedes pair George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n
While Piastri admitted McLaren still lacked the outright pace of Mercedes, he said changing conditions could shake up the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we are a bit closer, yes,\u201d Piastri told Sky Sports after qualifying.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I don\u2019t think we have the ultimate pace of Mercedes still. The pace they had in the sprint before they started battling was impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got closer obviously, but yeah, not quite enough to do more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Piastri pointed to the predicted weather as a possible factor in helping McLaren close the gap on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll wait and see about the weather,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s probably going be the biggest opportunity. So we\u2019ll wait and see.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our starts were okay but the run is very short to Turn 1 here. So there\u2019s not the same ability to make progress. But we\u2019ll see what we get and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Australian had earlier recovered from losing a place to Lewis Hamilton at the start of the sprint to eventually finish fourth after passing the Ferrari driver on the penultimate lap.<\/p>\n
Piastri said dirty air once again made overtaking difficult despite improving pace as the race unfolded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit tricky just like stuck in dirty air and I couldn\u2019t really do much,\u201d he said after the sprint race.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean even when I got past it was not easy. So I think as the race went on I was getting quicker and quicker compared to Lewis, but yeah, just not an easy way past.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether Canada had presented more overtaking difficulties than other circuits this season, Piastri said it had largely been consistent with the wider trend across 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot necessarily,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a similar story to what it has been all year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely tricky to follow and tricky to get ahead for sure. I think here is quite well balanced actually, because overtaking Lewis wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it was good.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella described the day as \u201cencouraging\u201d after the team showed improved pace against Mercedes following recent upgrades to the MCL40.<\/p>\n
He added he was pleased McLaren had remained within striking distance of the Brackley squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an encouraging day,\u201d he told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe result in the sprint was good in terms of result and the points that we scored and the fact that we could keep up with Mercedes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think this trend was confirmed in the qualifying session.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know the trend is quite consistent. Mercedes is the fastest car. They lock up the first row.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are a little bit closer. Under two tenths of a second.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe car performs well in the corners. We lose some time in the straights.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to look why we lose time in the straights, however overall I think progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stella also praised the work done by McLaren in bringing upgrades to the car while hinting more developments were still to come over the next races, adding the forecast rain could improve the team\u2019s chances on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to miss any opportunity to thank the team for the efforts in bringing these upgrades,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a little bit more that hopefully we will take to the coming races. Especially there\u2019s a couple of items that we will review for the future races.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo like I say, it\u2019s very encouraging the trend. And tomorrow also, if you think about the race here in Canada, there could be some weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is possible. So we\u2019ll certainly do our best.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canadian Grand Prix starts at 6am AEST Monday (4pm local time).<\/p>\n
Russell steals Canadian GP pole from Antonelli<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n