Becoming a part of a high-profile team like McLaren is a formidable challenge, particularly in the absence of testing opportunities and with limited track time during race weekends. The difficulty intensifies when teamed up with a driver of Lando Norris’s caliber.
Oscar Piastri joined McLaren after a year-long hiatus from racing since his last F2 event in 2021. He accumulated some F1 mileage through private testing with an old Alpine in the first half of 2022, but this came to an abrupt halt following his transfer to McLaren.
The start of the 2023 season presented a significant challenge for the Australian, given the competitive nature of the MCL60. However, Piastri began making personal strides as the car’s performance improved mid-season.
Notably, a fourth-place finish at Silverstone signaled an upward trend, followed by a third-place finish in Japan and a second-place finish in Qatar, where he also secured a stunning pole-to-flag sprint victory.
Credit for Piastri’s rapid advancement goes to two key individuals. His entry into McLaren coincided with Andrea Stella’s promotion to team principal. Stella demonstrates a solid comprehension of drivers’ capabilities and how to maximize their potential.
Mark Webber, along with Ann Neal, guided him from the ranks into his McLaren seat, with Webber drawing from his own experience to navigate Piastri through his challenging rookie season.
Webber expressed immense pride and happiness for Piastri’s 2023 form. Despite the significant setback of a lengthy break from racing, Piastri dealt with it without making any excuses and reacted well to even the most surprising elements of racing.
With McLaren’s development program in full gear, there were moments when Norris got the latest parts while Piastri had to wait. Although it could have been frustrating, the younger driver managed to see the larger picture.
Webber considers the Qatar sprint win as a milestone in Piastri’s career, especially with Max Verstappen on his heels. Piastri was impeccable, managing pressure like a seasoned professional.
Throughout his rookie season, Piastri demonstrated an outstanding ability to avoid mistakes. He had a few mishaps in practice, but none that seriously affected his performance on the track.
Piastri understood the importance of learning from Norris, but he also significantly contributed to the team’s overall growth, bringing new ideas and perspectives to the table.
In the beginning part of the year, Piastri took his time to learn, only hitting his stride in qualifying. However, as the season progressed, he began pushing boundaries, a strategy he would elevate in the following year.
Webber believes Piastri’s relationship with Andrea and his team at McLaren has been instrumental in his career progression so far. Stella also agrees that the pairing of Piastri and Norris has been a significant strength for the team, as they feed off each other’s energy and continue to learn and grow.
Stella is excited about new technical team members Rob Marshall and David Sanchez joining McLaren, hoping to maintain the upward trajectory they have cultivated. However, he acknowledges the anticipation surrounding who among Piastri and Norris will claim a Grand Prix victory first.
Stella believes that a victory from Piastri would be an extraordinary emotion for the entire team, signifying their ability to win races. In Lando’s case, Stella imagines him to focus on what needs improvement to achieve the same feat.
Stella promotes a philosophy of continuous improvement among the team’s drivers, a sentiment echoed by both Piastri and Norris.