A new star is rising in Formula 1 – Oscar Piastri, a 22-year-old rookie. But as he navigates this high-stakes world, the boy-faced Australian acknowledges a key area for growth: tyre management.
Piastri has already turned heads this season, particularly as he races alongside the highly-regarded Lando Norris at McLaren. His skill was unmistakable in the Qatar sprint race, where he even beat Max Verstappen to the chequer. Yet, as Piastri himself admits, there’s room for improvement. Over the full race distance, his struggle to manage Pirelli tyre wear, in contrast to Norris, has been apparent, highlighting a pivotal learning curve in his rookie season.
“The last three races were frustrating,” Piastri shared with Auto Motor und Sport, “but I learned a lot. The lessons will help me next year.”
But Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team boss, remains a staunch supporter of Piastri, pointing out that car damage often compromised the aerodynamics of Piastri’s car, affecting tyre performance. “But the speed is there with Oscar. The consistency is still to come,” Stella affirms.
Piastri himself reflects on the challenges posed by recent circuits and the steep competition. “In Formula 2 you’re against people who have maybe driven the track once or twice before. Now I’m racing against guys like (Fernando) Alonso who have been to Sao Paulo 20 times in their career,” he said, highlighting the steep learning curve he faces.
The perspective from the F1 fraternity, however, is optimistic. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher is vocal in his praise: “He is actually doing an incredible job as a rookie and will take the next steps.” The former grand prix winner is confident in Piastri’s potential, envisioning him as a future title contender. “With his sprint victory, he showed what potential he has,” Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. “In the long runs over a race distance, Lando Norris has been better with his experience. It will take a while for Piastri, but he is someone who has the potential to compete for titles in the future. I’m very sure of that.”
With Norris in the other orange McLaren, Schumacher’s forecast for the Woking based team is similarly promising: “In the future, this duo will definitely be one of the strongest in the field. Norris is already at the highest level; Piastri certainly needs another year or two. But as a rookie, he is already at an incredible level.”
