Oscar Piastri reveals ‘frustrating bug’ causing shock Q1 output

Oscar Piastri suffered a surprise early exit from Q1 during qualifying for the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Speaking to the media after his exit, the Australian driver revealed a “frustrating mistake” that cost him a place in Q2 .

He explained to her Sky Sports F1:

“I just came out of turn 12, went into the curb there and that was it.

“My lap was going to be pretty easy, so it’s very frustrating to have made that mistake.

“I lost about a second. It’s a tricky circuit but I don’t think today it was because I made a really bad mistake and that was it.

“I had a similar position with Lando last year, so I’ll make sure I do my homework on how he’s been through the field and try to do the same, I think.”

Since joining McLaren in 2023, Piastri has recorded commendable results, including two Grand Prix wins and multiple podiums, meaning his exit in Q1 was unusual for the driver. He will start the race from the seventeenth position on the grid. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was also eliminated in Q1 in front of his home crowd. The Mexican driver is set to start the race from the eighteenth position.

Piastri’s McLaren team-mate will start the race from third on the grid, behind pole-sitter Carlos Sainz and championship rival Max Verstappen in second. Speaking of pole position in his time post-qualification interview broadcastexplained the Spanish driver:

“Very happy and some great laps. A lot of times around Mexico you always feel like you can’t get a lap together and it’s extremely difficult with how much slippage there is.

“But today, honestly, my two laps in Q3 were almost identical, almost perfect. I only did two very solid laps in Q3, enough for pole, and very happy because that’s not normally the case in Mexico, with how complicated it is.

“Definitely, since Austin, I’ve taken a step up, especially from my side. Also in qualifying, trying to find something more with lap passing and tire preparation and it looks like we’re going in the right direction.

“Obviously looking forward to getting the job done tomorrow, but at least pole position today – I’ll take it because it shows progress and some really solid laps.”

1. Carlos Sainz
2. Max Verstappen
3. Lando Norris
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Kevin Magnussen
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Alex Albon
10. Nico Hulkenberg
11. Yuki Tsunoda
12. Liam Lawson
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Lance Stroll
15. Valtteri Bottas
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Oscar Piastri
18. Sergio Perez
19. Esteban Ocon
20. Zhou Guanyu