Regardless of what will be the definitive outcomes of the 2024 World Cup, Oscar Piastri hit the mark. He became a Grand Prix winner, confirmed significant growth and above all got into the heads of many rivals, including Lando Norris. There are common traits between the first steps taken in Formula 1 by many champions and Piastri is (currently) walking on the same path. He does it in his own way, because Oscar has always been a little different from other drivers of his generation. Now that he has brought himself into the spotlight of the world of Formula 1 to many fans, as well as to many professionals, he appears to be an inscrutable boy.
It has been known for some time that Piastri is destined for the top ranks of motorsport. He has speed, a passion for technique and a great dedication to his work. But what distinguishes him from his peers is a character trait that represents an important weapon in a sport where you have to constantly live with great pressure: clear-headed and analytical calm. Over the course of his career in preparatory formulas his journey has been exhilarating, but not everything always went as expected. In 2020, his debut season in Formula 3, Piastri was heavily affected by a persistent problem with the DRS of his single-seater which lasted for several race weekends.
A scenario that would get on your nerves, but not for him. A long story began told on Twitter (still visible today) in which he spoke with “my dear DRS”, ironically recounting his misadventures race after race. The Prema team literally went crazy to find the origin of the problem, and only after several race weekends was it discovered that the anomaly came from a sensor. During the difficult moment, Piastri showed no sign of nervousness, he committed himself to bringing home the maximum possible points in those conditions, winning the title at the end of the season.
Oscar Piastri
Photo by: Oscar Piastri
The approach is that of a seasoned veteran. When things don’t go the way he would like, his analyzes don’t contain a single word out of place, he has a unique ability to underline a problematic situation with a joke, without ever appearing offensive or presumptuous towards those sitting on the other side of the table. table. A gift that allows him to bring the people he works with to his side and obtain the support of the group.
Among the critical issues that Piastri had to face was the traumatic termination of his relationship with Alpine and the consequent move to McLaren in the summer of 2022. Usually a driver who finds himself at the center of these events ends up coming out badly , especially on the image front, but this was not the case for Oscar. In his case there was also a further ‘aggravating factor’, namely the arrival in McLaren at the expense of his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo. Criticism or controversy? None. Piastri said little about the matter, but what little he said was well directed. He could have (at least initially) ended up in the sights of Ricciardo’s many supporters, especially in his native Australia, but the negative effects were practically nil.
Obviously maturity would be of little use if there wasn’t also pure performance, but Oscar dispelled these doubts some time ago, convincing Renault to include him in its Academy at the end of 2019. Three years later, with three consecutive titles under his belt (F.Renault, F.3 and F.2) he convinced McLaren to take a step which on paper was not without risks, namely guaranteeing Ricciardo the full salary envisaged by his contract for the 2023 season and put Oscar in the car. The operation turned out to be brilliant after all, a coup for which Zak Brown and Andrea Stella can only be satisfied.
It’s true that Norris is fighting for the world championship today, it’s clear that Lando currently boasts a 42-point advantage over his teammate. But Formula 1 is also a sport in which you need to know how to read the future, and Piastri’s solidity has also made inroads in the McLaren garage. The team did not want to appoint a permanent squire, Oscar will only be available if the circumstances are concretely worth his sacrifice. Since the world championship landed in Europe (over the Imola weekend) the points haul of Norris and Piastri are equivalent, 196 points each, confirming Oscar’s notable growth which is evident from the direct comparison with a teammate who does not discounts.
Piastri is also observed specially outside the walls of McLaren, Brown and Stella know this well, committed to preventing discontent from arising within the team. They know they have a future world champion in their hands, a diamond in the rough that is quickly revealing its brilliance, and they don’t want to create cracks that could allow their opponents to slip in with tempting offers.
#Plates #diamond #rough #revealing #brilliance