Second fiddle to second on the grid: Piastri carries McLaren hopes in Baku

Oscar Piastri could have been forgiven for enjoying a wry smile to himself in Baku.

The man who was told in no uncertain terms by his McLaren team last week that he’ll be playing second fiddle to Lando Norris for the rest of the season can only have savoured the irony that on Sunday, he’ll be principal violinist.

Second on the grid: Oscar Piastri.Credit: Getty Images

That’s because after a week at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where the paddock was consumed by the talk of McLaren throwing its resources behind Norris at the expense of his Australian teammate, it all went pear-shaped for the team in papaya in qualifying.

Main man Norris had a calamitous day, failing to get out of the first section of qualifying after, unluckily, being stymied as Esteban Ocon’s slow-moving Alpine got the yellow flag.

In contrast, Piastri had a spectacular final lap in Q3, skirting dangerously close to the wall on the street circuit but still pulling off a time only bettered by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who loves this track so much it was the fourth straight time he had landed pole.

So while championship hopeful Norris will start 17th on the grid, it will be Piastri carrying all McLaren hopes from the front row – and it was suggested to him that there would be nothing to stop him getting the green light to go for victory on Sunday.

Piastri chats with his team during qualifying.Credit: Getty Images

“Definitely,” beamed the man from Melbourne.

The 23-year-old Piastri at least has a golden opportunity to show what he’s capable of again without having to worry about supporting Norris, who will do well on the tight circuit to garner substantial points.

He’s 62 points behind leader and champion Max Verstappen, who will start sixth in his Red Bull and has a tremendous opportunity to extend that advantage.

But Piastri, fourth in the standings, is certainly not ruling out the prospect of adding a second win to his laurels after he was gifted a maiden win in Hungary when McLaren team orders actually worked in his favour and Norris was instructed to let him through for victory.

The Englishman eventually agreed – under much pressure.

Asked whether he felt his McLaren had the speed to take victory on Sunday, Piastri shrugged: “I think the way we’re starting yes, but following around here is going to be really tough.

“I’ve got confidence our car will be quick. But I think there are definitely seven other cars out on the track that are certainly not any slower.

“Through all of practice it looked very tight between us, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.”

Of his final qualifying lap, he added: “It was a bit scruffy.

“I just got a little closer to the walls – a little bit too close – but I just tried to get the most out of it. This track rewards commitment and I felt really good all the way through. I’m very happy with P2, I think it’s the most I could have hoped for today.”

AAP