Oscar Piastri was in contention for victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, but an unfortunately timed Safety Car period cost him his chances, and he ultimately finished second, securing McLaren’s first podium of the season.
Lando Norris overtook Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to finish fifth.
Piastri acknowledged that the result might have been different without the Safety Car but praised the team for extracting the maximum from the car. Norris,meanwhile, highlighted the team’s strong race pace and improvements in energy management, describing the result as encouraging.
McLaren is beginning to build momentum, although further progress will be required to consistently fight for victories.
