Oscar Piastri makes unusual '100-lap' claim after rare McLaren failure

Oscar Piastri has claimed that McLaren would have needed the Canadian Grand Prix to be "100 laps" to enjoy its usual tyre dominance over the field.

Piastri was fourth in Montreal, his worst result since ninth in the season-opening Australian GP, as McLaren was unable to assert its dominance over the field as has been the case at a number of grands prix in 2025.

The Australian also suffered a collision with team-mate Lando Norris, but was still able to extend his championship lead to 22 points after Norris' DNF.

On reflection, Piastri felt McLaren could only have shown its usual dominance in tyre management if the race had been 30 laps longer.

"The pace wasn't great at first on the medium," Piastri told the media, including RacingNews365.

"I think where we came into our own was when everyone else was degrading, we were good, and unfortunately, we needed the race to be 100 laps to take advantage of that.

"We were quick at points, and at other points, we did not have enough. In the whole race, we did not have enough of an advantage to make tracks.

"There is still such a long way to go, and I know that if Lando wins three races and I finish second, the gap would be one point in three races, so it is not a comfortable margin. 

"How I wanted to build the weekend wasn't strong enough from myself, and as a team, we recognise that it was a challenging one, and we need to be stronger."