Oscar Piastri is determined to step out of the shadows by 2025. The Australian driver claimed his first two Grand Prix victories this season, but often played a supporting role at McLaren due to Lando Norris’s championship campaign. However, the statistics speak volumes: Piastri proved to be a formidable competitor in a rollercoaster Formula 1 season. In the coming year, he hopes not only to defend the constructor’s title but also to compete for the world championship himself.
Despite finishing fourth in the drivers’ championship this season, Oscar Piastri managed to set a remarkable record. He became the fourth driver in history to complete every lap of a Formula 1 season. This puts him in an illustrious group: Michael Schumacher (2002), Lewis Hamilton (2019), and Max Verstappen (2023) preceded him. This underlines once again why Piastri – considered by many a ‘future world champion’ – should not be overlooked.
‘Significant Progress Made’
While Oscar Piastri impressed with his race speed, his qualifying pace lagged behind. Despite victories in both the Hungarian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, he never started from pole position. Moreover, he only out-qualified teammate Lando Norris four times. Nevertheless, Piastri was invaluable in McLaren’s battle for the constructors’ title. If the papayas are immediately competitive next season, he hopes to compete for more than just that title.”I hope we can immediately compete for victories next season,” he declared after the Abu Dhabi GP. “There are still a few areas where I can improve, but overall, I feel I’ve made a good step forward since my rookie year.” Oscar Piastri, who made his debut with McLaren in 2021, looks confidently towards the future. “I’m looking forward to next year,” he concluded. “I want to take a break first and then fully focus on the fight for both championships.”
Thanks in part to Oscar Piastri, McLaren was crowned world champion this year – for the first time since 1998.
