Piastri sees Red Bull as F1’s most consistently quick car

Oscar Piastri believes Red Bull has become Formula 1’s most consistently quick car over recent weeks, with the team seven points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship ahead of the United States Grand Prix. He said the competitive challenge varies from one weekend to the next.

At the pre-race press conference at the Circuit of the Americas, the McLaren driver said Red Bull had been stronger than his own team. He pointed to the upgrades Red Bull put on its car in Baku, which he described as very strong. Red Bull scored a double podium there before Max Verstappen won the next two races, in Malaysia and Singapore. Piastri said he had expected Ferrari to be the benchmark at many circuits and was surprised by Red Bull’s position.

Isack Hadjar, speaking at the same press conference, offered a different assessment: he said he did not think Red Bull had the fastest car and suggested Ferrari had been quicker in Singapore.