The F1 driver Oscar Piastri has expressed his frustration at the influence that automated systems have on the qualifying of the drivers. After a complicated weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, the member of the McLaren team commented that the lack of control of the drivers over their power units (PU) makes the competition less authentic.
During qualifying sessions, Piastri struggled to match the performance of his teammate, Lando Norris, even though both PUs had identical configurations. According to Piastri, the current power units include self-learning elements that automatically adjust performance and, therefore, may deviate based on factors such as grip conditions and wind direction.
Andrea Stella, head of the McLaren team, pointed out that small variations in driver inputs can have a significant impact on the performance of the PUs, adding further uncertainty to the qualifying. Piastri described the situation as a frustrating experience, stating: “There is no other way to say it than ‘it’s terrible.'”
Additionally, Piastri emphasized that this issue does not only affect him but also other drivers, like George Russell, who have faced similar situations in other races. He expressed that ‘when qualifying grids are determined by computers that behave or don’t, it’s a disappointing moment.’
His teammate Lando Norris agreed with this viewpoint, emphasizing that at circuits like Spa, where energy management is crucial, drivers have little control over the qualifying outcome: “There are too many factors outside of our control.” Norris acknowledged that, despite having been fortunate this weekend, this issue has affected his performances throughout the season.
With so many unknown aspects, both Piastri and Norris agree on the need to improve the reliability and predictability of the power units in the future to ensure a fairer and more exciting competition.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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