Oscar Piastri impressed the F1 paddock with his rookie campaign, but he believes there is plenty of room for improvement. In his second year with a potentially more competitive McLaren, expectations will rise for the 22-year-old.
To some degree, Piastri’s 2023 season can be described as near-perfect. The MCL60 was relatively uninspiring to start the year, but this allowed the Australian to get up to speed in a relatively low-pressure environment.
It wasn’t until the summer that Piastri received McLaren’s season-defining upgrades. By this stage, as seen in Silverstone and then Budapest, the 22-year-old was finding his feet.
A couple of podiums and sprint race victory were highlights for the youngster, who cemented himself as a star of the future. However, the challenge will intensify when the lights go out in Bahrain.
2PG0ABB Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 19th Mar, 2023. #81 Oscar Piastri (AUS, McLaren F1 Team), #4 Lando Norris (GBR, McLaren F1 Team), F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 19, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by HIGH TWO) Credit: dpa/Alamy Live News
If McLaren maintains their current trajectory, it isn’t out of reason that podiums will be possible when 2024 begins. Andrea Stella’s squad have shown a clear understanding of the F1 cars over the last twelve months.
Provided they avoid major pit-falls, Piastri will be against the best in F1 throughout the season. No longer a rookie, his points total and head-to-head against Lando Norris will be more heavily dissected.
This comes with the territory of being a top Formula 1 driver, which the Australians seem more than capable of becoming.
No stranger to winning Championships in his career, Piastri explained a key ingredient he must begin to implement:
“There were definitely a few more difficult weekends [in 2023] and things we still need to work on.
“You don’t win Championships with one or two good weekends.
“I know what from my junior career, so I just have to do it more often.”
McLaren’s driver pairing is largely perceived as the most exciting on the grid. Norris and Piastri boast a combination of speed, potential and – increasingly – experience.
Although Qatar showed a small glimpse into the complications McLaren could face with teammates of such calibre. In 2024, the team’s ability to manage their drivers will be tested.
Historically, this isn’t an area where the Woking-based team has thrived.
Regardless, there are plenty of expectations for Piastri to manage in the next twelve months.
