On the eve of Singapore Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri was inevitably asked about the topic of flexible wings, an issue that emerged forcefully after the Baku Grand Prix. Despite the FIA confirming the regularity of McLaren, the debate has dominated the paddock and raised doubts among fans and rival teams. Piastri, galvanized by his victory in Azerbaijan, is now preparing to face the challenge of Marina Bay with confidence, but the technical issue remains very topical.
Success in Baku and ambitions for the title
Oscar Piastri arrives in Singapore on the wings of enthusiasm after his victory in Baku, a race where Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had proven particularly competitive. The result allowed McLaren to leap to the top of the constructors' championship, putting pressure on its rivals. However, when it comes to the drivers' title, the Australian remains realistic.
“I don’t think much about the title. For me, maintaining the lead in the Constructors’ Championship is the goal. I’m not out of the Drivers’ Championship, but I would have to score more than 10 points per GP compared to Max. And it’s not realistic that this could happen for seven races in a row. I don’t have any illusions, but I’ll be there ready to get back into the fight. I have to be at a certain level with greater consistency.” These words reflect Piastri's maturity, aware of the difficulty of the challenge against Max Verstappen, but determined to give his best for his team.
Despite the success in Baku, Piastri is aware that he still has room for improvement, especially in qualifying, as he himself admitted: “Where do I need to improve? A bit everywhere, I didn’t make it easy for myself in qualifying this year. But in terms of overtaking and dealing with the pressure I’m satisfied. I need to work on the weak points that were shown on some tracks last year.” This attitude reflects his determination to further grow as a driver, aware that to compete at the highest levels continuous improvement is necessary.
Piastri cuts short on the issue of flexible wings: "My wing is legal"
During today's press conference, the main question for Oscar Piastri could only concern the controversy over flexible wings, which emerged after the battle with Charles Leclerc in Baku. Television images had shown an anomalous behavior of the rear wing of his McLaren, raising questions about its legality. However, the FIA has carried out all the necessary checks and has not found any irregularities. Despite this, the possibility of stricter controls in the near future remains open.
Piastri answered firmly to questions at the press conference: “Flexible wings? All I can say is that it’s legal. If it passes all the tests… and we passed them all. And I’m happy about that.” With these words, the young Australian wanted to put an end to any controversy over the regularity of his car, reiterating McLaren's full compliance with FIA regulations.
McLaren confident for Singapore
Piastri himself admitted that the team has good expectations for the weekend: “Even though it’s a shorter circuit, Marina Bay is incredibly demanding for the drivers. The team has a good pace, and now we need to focus on accumulating as many points as possible.”
The challenge against Ferrari and Red Bull promises to be intense, with Ferrari ready to respond with a new front wing, unless the FIA intervenes with further checks. Overtaking will not be easy in Singapore, however, and qualifying strategy could play a decisive role in the fight for success.
Source statements: SkySportF1
