Piastri said: “Max has done a good job, another high-speed circuit for them, where they seem to have a little more success. Our pace is good. It’s going to be a tough race, the tyres are softer than last year and we’ll see if that plays to our advantage.”
Norris will have to rely on the strong race pace of the McLaren to try to limit the damage to his championship position, as he starts the race three points clear of Piastri and eight in front of Verstappen.
His accident was caused by him misjudging the entry to the chicane at Turns Four and Five. The car oversteered on to the kerb at Five and was flicked into the wall on the exit, damaging the left-hand side of the car.
He swore over the radio that he was an “idiot”, but was unhurt.
“Disappointed but I’m fine,” Norris said. “The team have a lot of work to do. It has been such a smooth positive weekend so far, so I’m disappointed to have such big setback. But have to take it on the chin, and try and go again tomorrow.
“The car is quick. It has been quick all weekend, so I have to work hard to overtake the cars tomorrow.”
Russell said he had “mixed feelings” because he felt there was more in his car, adding that he rued Mercedes’ decision not to use the same strategy as Red Bull after the red flag.
At Ferrari, Hamilton’s travails this season continued, underlined by the statistic that he has only once so far qualified higher than the seventh place he managed this weekend.
“I’ve been nowhere all weekend,” Hamilton said. “I am happier than I was yesterday. It really wasn’t coming easy, so P7 is OK. I still have work to do to try to gel with this car.”
