Oscar Piastri eyes record-breaking season as Canadian Grand Prix looms
Oscar Piastri Poised to Break Records at Canadian Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri is on the brink of setting a new standard for Australian drivers in Formula 1. Heading into Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, the 24-year-old McLaren star stands poised to become the only Australian to secure six or more wins in a single Formula 1 season. However, his focus isn't just on rewriting history—he's laser-focused on achieving even bigger accolades.
The 1980 champion Alan Jones and triple world champion Jack Brabham are the only two Aussies to have notched five wins in a single campaign, though both competed in eras with far fewer races than today's record-setting 24. For Piastri, who has already clinched five victories out of the season’s opening nine races and maintained podium finishes for eight consecutive rounds, surpassing this milestone appears within reach.
Piastri Remains Grounded Despite Success
Piastri remains grounded despite his early success, noting the importance of aiming higher. “It’s a nice stat to have,” he said of equaling Jones and Brabham’s win record. “I’d be happier with the stat of joining them as world champion. To have five wins in nine races is beyond what I expected really, even with a very competitive car.”
Reflecting on his season, Piastri admitted there had been moments where improvement was possible. “While those stats are cool, that’s ultimately not why I’m here. I’m here to try and win even more races and fight for a championship. So I think there’s some cooler statistics to come, hopefully.”
Challenges Ahead at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
On paper, Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has all the ingredients for yet another strong outing for the McLaren ace, but Piastri knows competition won’t be far behind. McLaren has dominated the season thus far, winning seven of the nine races, while Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen claimed the other two. Piastri acknowledges the unpredictability of rival teams like Mercedes and Ferrari, both of whom could bring the fight to McLaren this weekend.
“Max will probably be competitive again,” Piastri cautioned. “This was a very competitive race for Mercedes last year, and I expect them to be quick again here. But you never quite know whether that’s going to be matching us or challenging in qualifying, or a tenth or two back. Hopefully it’s not a tenth or two ahead, but you just never quite know exactly where the challenge is going to come from.”
He also noted Ferrari’s more mixed fortunes at the track. “Monaco was a strong race for Ferrari, and there’s some similarities to here, but we said that 12 months ago and it wasn’t a great race for them.”
Montreal Holds Special Significance for Piastri
Montreal holds particular significance for Piastri after his results at the venue last year. In 2022, he qualified fourth and finished fifth, while McLaren teammate Lando Norris claimed second behind Verstappen. Now sitting 10 points ahead of Norris in the championship, Piastri is reflective about his progress.
“Somewhat ironically, the races that were pretty bad for me last year have been the best so far this year, and some of the ones that were good last year haven’t been great,” he said. “So we’ll see how we go, but I’m expecting it to be a good weekend.”
Confidence Underpinning Piastri’s Season
Piastri’s confidence in his car and his mindset has been a prevailing theme this season, and it’s clear heading into Canada that he’s in a strong position both mentally and physically to continue his impressive campaign. “I’ve been very comfortable with the car the whole year and I feel like I’m in a good place at the moment, so I’m expecting it to be strong.”
All Eyes on Piastri as He Chases History
As the season gears up for its 10th race, all eyes will be on Piastri—and a potential piece of Australian Formula 1 history.
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