Now, I find myself humbly indulging in a slice of humble pie as I reflect on my initial scepticism towards McLaren’s decision to release Daniel Ricciardo from his contract one year early. Opting for Oscar Piastri, a driver renowned for his achievements in junior open-seater racing, particularly securing the FIA Formula 3 Championship, raised eyebrows. McLaren’s gamble was based on Piastri’s stint as a reserve/test driver for Renault F1, which included a notable 3-day test session in Bahrain back in 2020. These limited data points were all McLaren had to gauge Piastri’s potential as a full-fledged Formula 1 driver.
The transition from junior open-wheel racing to Formula One is fraught with challenges, resulting in a high failure rate for even the most talented and renowned drivers. The F1 graveyard serves as a somber reminder of promising careers cut short, succumbing to the relentless demands of the sport, which often exacts an almost immediate toll. In this unforgiving environment, if a driver manages to carve out a ten-year career in Formula One, they are regarded as having achieved success, irrespective of whether they clinched a race victory or not.
Piastri has swiftly left his mark, demonstrating an impressive combination of speed, racecraft, and patience on the track. In a departure from the norm, he eschews verbosity and charisma, allowing his driving to be the sole spokesperson for his abilities. Unassumingly, he embodies the persona of the quiet Australian—an uncommon trait from the folks from downunder who often are characterized by high energy, chest-thumping bravado, and a penchant for beer-swilling antics that defines the modern Australian man.
Despite concluding his inaugural 2023 F1 season trailing his teammate by a significant margin in the driver’s standings, Piastri showcased his driving skills by out-qualifying Norris on a number of occasions. The extent to which Norris found himself overdriving to match Piastri’s performance underscores the Australian driver’s impact.
Recognized as one of the grid’s fastest and most consistent drivers, Lando Norris’s status as a potential future world champion magnifies the significance of Piastri’s performances. Mentally, compelling a driver of Norris’s calibre to push beyond his usual limits stands as a noteworthy victory for Piastri. Piastri has also clinched the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, a feat yet to be matched by Norris.
However, personally, I don’t attribute a particularly high level of significance to the Sprint Race format, but the fact remains that a victory is a victory. The true key to securing race wins and, ultimately, championships requires a high degree of mental fortitude. In certain races, it seems Norris has pushed himself to the limit to match Piastri’s pace—a potential indicator of faltering mental composure.
It will be intriguing to observe whether Piastri can elevate his performance in his second full F1 season. However, the extent of his success will hinge on McLaren’s ability to deliver a competitive car. So, to answer the question, was McLaren’s Oscar Pisastri gamble worth it? Helll yeah!
