Piastri reveals missing F1 ingredient

Oscar Piastri has opened up about what he feels is still missing from his F1 arsenal, assessing the "step forward" he has taken from his debut campaign to this year. The McLaren driver feels it has been an up-and-down start to the season, but with McLaren a resurgent force after the spate of upgrades it introduced in Miami, the Australian has reason to be optimistic for the rounds ahead. Since the introduction of the updated package in Florida, the Woking team has taken a podium at each grand prix - including team-mate Lando Norris' first win in F1. Whilst Piastri himself was unlucky not to fare better in the United States, since Imola he has enjoyed a better run of performances and a decent haul points, with fourth and fifth-place finishes sandwiching his second-position in Monaco. "I would say more just a confidence thing," the 23-year-old told media including RacingNews365 when asked if he had found something in the set-up of his McLaren, or if it was purely down to confidence. "I think there have been good moments here and there, even at the start of the season. I think the first few rounds were quite promising, a couple of difficult races in the middle, but on the whole, I feel like I've taken a good step forward in quite a few areas from last year. I think it's just been the consistency that's really been the missing thing."

'Taking it up a notch'

Prior to the introduction of the developments to the MCL38, Piastri began the season with three eighth-place finishes and two runs to fourth. Meanwhile, Norris secured two podiums in those opening five rounds. Since then, the Australian has shown steady and marked improvement, and ultimately, more consistency - the very thing he still feels is somewhat lacking in his second F1 season. Despite the uptick in results, Piastri does not feel he or the team is doing anything "special", but rather it is the culmination of continuous improvement off the back of the upgrades. "So the last few weekends have been good to try and get on top of that. But I don't think I've done anything special," the one-time sprint winner said. "I don't think as a team we've really done anything special. We've just got the car in a good window. And with the upgrades, clearly it's performing well. So yeah, I think we're all just taking it up a notch."