Piastri: Track position around Suzuka is so important

Piastri started the race from third, right where he qualified, as Max Verstappen won the race from pole while Lando Norris was second.

The McLaren driver had to settle for second and third behind Verstappen in the race as the four-time Formula 1 champion controlled the grand prix from the front on a day when overtaking proved difficult as Piastri couldn't even pass his teammate despite getting close several times while enjoying better pace.

"My pace felt very strong and I was able to get DRS pretty comfortably but I couldn't get any closer than that. We all want to race but after qualifying that was the result we deserved," Piastri told the media after the race.

Speaking in McLaren's race report, the Aussie added: "A good haul of points and a nice result for the team. I think the pace today was really good and I was very happy with that.

"We got close for the overtake a few times, but track position around here is just so important. I think yesterday was the day where you effectively won the race, and we just didn't put it all together, so I'll absolutely take the podium.

"We go to Bahrain with a lot of positives, and ready to challenge again," Piastri concluded.

Summing up McLaren's weekend, team principal Andrea Stella said: "A double podium finish is a positive result for the team.

"We felt the victory was possible but yesterday, we missed out on Pole Position by a few milliseconds, and today the Qualifying order was the dominant factor for the final outcome of the Grand Prix.

"We will review to see if there were some variables we could have played with this afternoon, but degradation was low and a one-stop race didn't give us many strategic options.

"Overall, we have scored good points in both Championships and executed a very smooth weekend thanks to the trackside team, and everyone back at the factory. We're now looking forward to Bahrain," Stella concluded.

McLaren are still leading the 2025 F1 constructors' championship while Norris still leads Verstappen in the drivers' standings, albeit by one point. Piastri overtook Mercedes' George Russell to take third in the championship.