Oscar Piastri, the Australian driver for McLaren, has made significant progress in improving his race management skills, according to Andrea Stella, Formula 1 team principal. Stella praised Piastri’s development in the area of tire management, which was a weakness for him during his rookie season in F1. Following a strong performance at the Australian Grand Prix, with Lando Norris finishing third and Piastri fourth, Stella believes Piastri executed his race strategy well despite the challenges of tire wear.
Stella highlighted Piastri’s ability to identify and address his weaknesses before they become issues. He praised Piastri’s awareness of potential vulnerabilities before each race weekend and his proactive approach in seeking solutions. Stella emphasized that Piastri’s growth lies in his ability to anticipate and prevent problems, rather than reacting to them once they arise. This self-calibration exercise through experience is helping Piastri hone his skills as a driver.
During the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren used team orders to ensure Norris finished ahead of Piastri, despite Piastri briefly holding the third position. Stella explained that this decision was made to minimize the risk of a potential conflict between the two McLaren drivers, as he believed Norris would naturally overtake Piastri. This strategic move aimed to maximize the overall team performance.
McLaren had a promising start to the 2024 season, currently occupying third place in the Constructors’ Championship with 55 points after three rounds. This represents a significant improvement compared to the challenging start they faced in the 2023 campaign, where they only accumulated 12 points. The team’s progress is evident, and Stella is optimistic about continued success in the upcoming races.
