With Piastri, McLaren always shows composure, both in success and adversity. He has all the credentials to become the greatest Australian driver since Brabham. A very different character from Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber (now his manager). Oscar is certainly a driver who knows what he wants, thanks in part to the wise guidance of his manager.
It was August 1, 2022, when Fernando Alonso announced his move to Aston Martin. The following day, the Australian defied Alpine, which had intended to replace the two-time world champion with its most talented academy product. Piastri remained unfazed and asserted his agreement with the Woking-based team, which eventually won the legal battle against the French outfit in the following weeks.
For the Melbourne-born driver, this was a true stroke of fortune—what we might call a “sliding door” moment. This is especially evident considering McLaren’s exponential growth, which stands in stark contrast to the struggles of the Alpine team, still trying to recover. Piastri is introverted but determined, unwavering in his pursuit of his ambitions.
The ‘Papaya Rules’ shaped by Oscar’s speed
As soon as McLaren provided him with the opportunity to fight for victories, Oscar has almost always delivered. It’s important to remember that alongside him is an equally fast driver who has been with the British team for several seasons. This highlights that the 2001-born driver has not had an easy path since arriving in F1, first needing to prove himself against his teammate.
Moreover, he had to work hard to earn equal treatment. It was only from the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix onward that Andrea Stella’s team asked the Australian to support Norris in his difficult pursuit of the drivers’ title. This season’s start has already shown that McLaren’s two drivers are essentially on the same level—at least for now.
Lando still appears to have the edge in qualifying, an area where Oscar needs to make a significant improvement. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old is fully aware of his capabilities. For him, Formula 1 is not just a career milestone but a stage where he intends to prove, even at the highest level of motorsport, what he accomplished in the junior categories: winning a world championship.
Oscar Piastri is used to winning
Lando Norris knows that his teammate might be his only real rival this season. In Australia, once Oscar got past Max Verstappen, who had surprised him at the start, he quickly settled behind the papaya-colored number four car. The team decided to hold positions due to worsening weather conditions. The home hero, however, took himself out of contention for victory after making a mistake as the rain intensified.
However, the Chinese Grand Prix proved that the Melbourne error left no lasting effects. In both the sprint and the main race, Oscar decisively outperformed his teammate. The impression is that the young Australian is mentally rock-solid. He belongs to an elite group, like George Russell and Charles Leclerc, who won both Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles at their first attempt.
In short, he is a driver accustomed to success and unafraid of aggressive wheel-to-wheel battles. Unlike Norris, who squandered several opportunities last season and, objectively, appears to have a psychological deference to Max Verstappen. If the championship truly turns into a two-way battle, the mental aspect could be the key factor in determining the outcome of the season.
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