Oscar Piastri, the emergence of a rookie

He may only be 22 years old, but this young Australian has already won everything in his youth in motorsport. In 2019, he won the Formula Renault season ahead of a certain Victor Martins and started his great ascent. The following year, in Formula 3, he entered the big leagues, even though he was only 19 years old. He managed to win the championship ahead of Théo Pourchaire and Logan Sargeant and moved up to Formula 2, the gateway to Formula 1. But nothing seems to stop the Australian, who triumphed in Formula 2 in 2021. He is the fifth driver to successfully win both Formula 3 and Formula 2 consecutively. A true talent.

In 2022, Oscar Piastri switches worlds as he becomes a reserve driver for Alpine. Even if his goal of becoming a Formula 1 driver is not achieved, he already has a foot in the premier discipline of motorsport. Subsequently, a contractual entanglement with Alpine will bring him into the spotlight. Following this controversy, Oscar Piastri will commit to McLaren for 2023. A decision criticized by many, but ultimately, this young driver had only one objective: to secure a place in Formula 1 for the 2023 season.

Here he is behind the wheel of the MCL60, alongside Lando Norris. He finally has both feet in Formula 1, but with tremendous pressure for his debut. Expectedly, Oscar Piastri has delivered. After some not always easy first races, it was at Silverstone where the young Australian proved his worth, and one can understand why McLaren made him their priority last year.

Timid beginnings

However, everything was not obvious at the beginning of the season. A year without really being behind the wheel and a tangle during the summer had been enough to put pressure on Piastri for his debut. But with a poorly performing McLaren at the start of the season, it would be a lie to say that he didn’t handle it well. Certainly, Bahrain was complicated, with a retirement at the end of the weekend. Not the best way to start. But in Saudi Arabia, Oscar Piastri was already showing his teeth, at least his speed in qualifying. With his first entry into Q3 for his second Formula 1 qualifying session, the Australian confirmed his natural speed.

But it was in Australia, at home, that his season really began. Despite missing out on qualification and starting from 16th position, Oscar Piastri fought hard and perfectly exploited his car to score his first points in Formula 1, finishing in 8th place. In front of his own people, Oscar Piastri confirmed the expectations placed upon him.

In Monaco, the qualifying is promising with an 11th place on the grid. Thanks to a good start, he enters the points and finishes 10th, at the end of the 78 laps in the principality. Once again, Piastri has shown his talent and his ability to perform. But until Great Britain, a big result was missing, a perfect weekend. That has now been achieved.

The revelation at Silverstone

Nobody could have predicted that the changes made to the MCL60 would work out so well, enabling the drivers from the Woking team to compete for a podium position legitimately. But seeing Oscar Piastri in the leading positions during qualifying and the Grand Prix was even less predictable.

The qualifications immediately set the tone. Ferrari was expected to be at the front, but it was McLaren that outpaced the prancing horse. Oscar Piastri, not really expected, clinched 3rd place on the grid, just behind Lando Norris. The performance is already massive.

But it is in the race that points are scored, and there were indeed doubts about Oscar Piastri. However, the Australian executed perfectly. A very good start allowed him to hold onto his 3rd place and even get alongside Max Verstappen on the inside in Copse, although overtaking him would have been another challenge altogether. Afterwards, Oscar Piastri had a smooth and fast-paced race, staying close to his teammate.

But the intervention of the safety car caused him to lose a position to Lewis Hamilton. Unfortunately for the rookie, this position meant a podium finish. At the checkered flag, he finishes 4th behind the seven-time world champion, but no credit can be taken away from him. His performance at Silverstone was great, impressive, and full of promise. Oscar Piastri has definitely shown why McLaren made the right choice in betting on him.

For the remainder of the season, Oscar Piastri will have to deliver performances as impressive as the one in Silverstone, if he has the opportunity. One thing is certain: McLaren seems to have struck gold with the Australian. For now, let’s meet in Hungary to see if the young Australian achieves his goal: a first podium finish.