Oscar Piastri recalls the moment in Silverstone in 2023 F1 season when he knew he can hold it against the experienced drivers on the grid.
After a good show towards the end of the 2023 F1 season when McLaren came alive, Piastri has continued his fine form into 2024. He has had his low moments but off-late, he has shown good temperament, especially after his move on Charles Leclerc for the win in Azerbaijan GP.
It has certainly put limelight on McLaren team orders, considering both Piastri and Lando Norris are doing well now. Talking about taking it to the likes of Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and even George Russell, the Australian recalled a 2023 breakthrough moment.
He admits fighting against the experienced lot can be intimidating for F1 rookies, but when he could hold off against Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton and Russell, it gave him confidence to race them at ease. He doesn’t have that fear of taking on his teammate either, as seen in Monza this year.
“I think for me, honestly, pretty early on I felt comfortable with doing that,” said Piastri to media. “If I was to pick a weekend in particular I think probably Silverstone last year, which was the first time we had a competitive car or a car capable of a podium. And until you race…it goes without saying, but no one on the grid is easy to race against.
“We’ve all gone through the junior categories and been successful there. So, it’s not like, maybe, some other categories on the way up or other championships, it’s really the culmination of 20 champions on the way there. So, no one is easy to race, but when you start racing against the guys that are at the front for years, and in some cases decades, it can be a little bit intimidating at first.
“I think Silverstone, when I had that opportunity for the first time and held my own, that was a good confidence boost and I’ve been confident to be able to race with everyone on the grid since then,” summed up Piastri, who has been key factor in McLaren taking the lead in constructors’ championship, as his contribution along with Norris has made things possible for them.
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