Oscar Piastri gets Lando Norris 'homework' as McLaren star shown up at Mexican GP

will be completing some 'homework' ahead of the , studying how cut through the field in 2023 after starting the race from 17th on the grid - the same position in which his team-mate will start.

Piastri demonstrated strong pace during the free practice sessions and looked set to be a threat in the fight for pole position. Many were even tipping McLaren for a qualifying one-two after Zak Brown's duo topped the timing screens in FP3.

However, things quickly unravelled for the young Australian when the light at the end of the pit lane went green in Q1. He struggled to get clear of the bottom five and after a lacklustre final run, dropped into the elimination zone. He is now set up for a P17 grid slot in the Grand Prix.

"We had a similar position for Lando last year, so I'll do my homework on how he went through the field and try to do the same," Piastri told Sky Sports F1 when dressing down his chances for Sunday's race.

Addressing the reasons behind his struggles, he explained: I just went off, got beached on the kerb and that was that. It was easily going to be enough, so it is very frustrating to make that mistake. I lost about a second. It is a very tricky circuit, but I don't think it was down to it being tricky. It was just a very poor mistake, and that was it."

For his team-mate, the stakes are even higher this weekend. After losing out to title rival in both the sprint and Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, the gap to first for Norris now stands at 57 points.

With just five races remaining and a formidable title opponent to fight, Norris needs a strong result in Mexico City to reignite the battle. Fortunately for him, third place is a good place to start at this track, given the massive run from the grid down to Turn One.

According to team principal Andrea Stella, victory isn't off the table. I think looking back at Austin, Ferrari was quite a bit ahead in the Sprint, a little bit less in the race," he said. "I think in the race we couldn't really see Lando's pace because we lost positions at the start.

"Overall, I would say our car looks closer to Ferrari during this weekend, so hopefully we will be able to contend for the victory, and we don't have to forget that Max is there as well."