Piastri: The driver must always be able to adapt

McLaren debutant Oscar Piastri believes he will have no problem adapting to a Formula 1 car as he has driven a variety of vehicles at earlier stages of his career and has always been successful.

He replaced Daniel Ricciardo in the Woking team, who never managed to fully get used to driving last year’s MCL36, and Oscar’s job is to quickly reach the level of Lando Norris, who became McLaren’s leader and prepares for his fifth season in the World Championship.

During yesterday’s presentation of the MCL60, the car of 2023, Piastri was asked if he feared he would face similar difficulties if even such an experienced professional as Ricciardo had to leave McLaren.

“First of all, it is of course a pity that Daniel has not been able to work well with the team, but personally I am not worried about the lack of experience,” said Oscar. – When I competed in the junior series, I had to master a new car every year – I never drove the same car for more than a year. I think adaptability is an important quality that is needed when you compete in the youth categories and I think I was able to excel in that.

So this aspect does not bother me. Of course I spent some time getting to know the 2021 car and also worked with McLaren on testing after the end of last season, so I kind of know what to expect.

But I think the rider always has to adapt because there are always certain things that don’t suit you, and something isn’t going to go the way you want it to. You always want the car to hold the track better and be more powerful! I think you always have to deal with a certain limitation. The question is how to overcome them.

If you move into Formula 1 from another race category, there will always be an adjustment period. The cars are faster, the drivers I have to compete with are the best in the world, so it won’t be easy.

When we talk about rivalries with Lando, it makes sense that we are being compared, because we will be driving the same cars, but of course we are at different stages in our careers – he is starting his fifth season in Formula 1, and I am a debutant.

But I don’t attach much importance to it. I think it’s good that I have a partner who sets high standards. Of course he has built a reputation as a great driver and I have no doubt I can learn a lot from him.”

Indeed, Piastri has a very impressive list of achievements in the previous stages of his career: since 2019 he has changed three youth series and in all three he became champion at the first attempt: this was the case in the Formula Renault Eurocup, in F3 and at F2. Last season he worked as a reserve driver with the Alpine F1 team, but in the summer he signed a contract with McLaren.