McLaren's standout victory: the rise of Oscar Piastri

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Oscar Piastri, has proven himself to be a real contender. His standout victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a McLaren driver showcased the hallmarks of a future world champion. This win came after his first F1 triumph at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which had been somewhat overshadowed by team strategy issues involving teammate Lando Norris. However, Piastri's second win was a breakthrough performance, setting a high bar for future races.

Piastri's path to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. Just over two years ago, his future in Formula 1 was anything but assured. In August 2022, Alpine announced that Piastri, who had won Formula 3 and Formula 2 in consecutive seasons, would race for them the following year. This seemed a logical next step for a driver who had been a part of Alpine's driver academy.

However, Piastri's iconic response to this announcement forever altered the course of F1 history. He had been in discussions with McLaren CEO Zak Brown about replacing Daniel Ricciardo, leveraging Alpine's indecision about his future. The French team found itself cornered by its own contractual commitments to Esteban Ocon and a reluctant stance on whether to continue with Fernando Alonso. Ultimately, both drivers moved to rival teams.

After a decisive court hearing, McLaren secured Piastri's services. Although the 2023 season began poorly, leading to the dismissal of technical director James Key, McLaren's fortunes turned around spectacularly. Now, the team is leading the constructors' championship and has a realistic shot at the drivers' title with Norris.

Zak Brown's acquisition of Piastri is likely to be hailed as one of the most astute moves in recent F1 history. With both Norris and Piastri now having two career victories each, McLaren finds itself in an enviable yet complex position. The team's "Papaya rules" came under scrutiny at the Italian Grand Prix, and the lead-up to the Baku race saw McLaren prioritize Norris in critical moments. Ironically, Norris played a pivotal role in Piastri's Azerbaijan victory by holding up Red Bull's Sergio Pérez, helping McLaren regain the constructors' championship lead for the first time since 2014.

The logical question arises: Who is McLaren's best driver? Norris appears to have the upper hand on paper, leading the qualifying head-to-head 14-3 and holding a 32-point lead over Piastri. His consistent performances have kept him as the closest challenger to championship leader Max Verstappen. However, some within the team believe Piastri may have a higher performance ceiling and responds differently to pressure. Team boss Andrea Stella referred to Piastri as the future of the team after the Italian Grand Prix, highlighting the Australian's potential.

Piastri himself acknowledges the difference between him and Norris boils down to consistency. "I think for me it's still been a bit of a case of consistency," he said. "That is one of Lando's strengths, he's always very quick and always very on it. This year there's been much less weekends where I've left going, 'Yeah, that was pretty average,' but there has still been a few."

Since his Hungarian Grand Prix win, Piastri has only finished behind Norris once, at the Dutch Grand Prix. His recent performances have been marked by stunning overtakes, showcasing a ruthless streak typically associated with the sport's greatest champions. Notably, in Baku, Piastri chose to ignore his race engineer's advice, demonstrating a racecraft reminiscent of his days in feeder categories.

For now, McLaren appears well-positioned. When one driver falters, the other steps up, as evidenced by Piastri's recent triumphs. The team has a solid grip on the constructors' championship, with the drivers' title also in sight if Norris can maintain his strong form.

Beyond 2024, however, the situation becomes uncertain. With McLaren expected to deliver a quick car next season, the harmonious dynamic within the team may be tested if both Piastri and Norris continue to perform at their best. The 2025 season could bring new challenges as these two remarkably talented drivers vie for supremacy.

In the end, Piastri's rise from an uncertain future with Alpine to a race-winning McLaren driver stands as one of the most compelling narratives in recent F1 history. His journey embodies resilience, skill, and the unyielding belief that he belongs among the sport's elite.

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