Oscar Piastri, a rising star in the current Formula 1 lineup, made a surprising announcement regarding his switch to McLaren instead of Alpine during the 2022 ‘silly season’ in F1. This decision sparked controversy as Alpine appeared to be on an upward trajectory at the time.
However, Piastri’s rookie season proved to be a success, with victories in the sprint race in Qatar, multiple podium finishes, and McLaren’s resurgence. In a recent interview with Speedcafe, the Australian driver expressed his belief that he is in the right place.
As the winner of the 2021 F2 championship, Piastri is proud to be a part of the McLaren team. He highlighted the remarkable progress they made in the second half of the previous year, acknowledging that he is not biased simply because he is a McLaren driver. He also pointed out that Aston Martin made significant strides in 2022-2023, and McLaren followed suit in the middle of the season. This gave him reassurance that he had made the right choice and that McLaren is now one of the top teams.
Piastri concluded by stating that McLaren’s substantial progress in the 2023 season has restored the team to its position as one of the leading outfits in Formula 1. This news will surely please his fans, as he appears to have no regrets about joining the papaya-colored team.
Piastri’s journey through the junior ranks was supported by Alpine’s Drivers Academy. Despite his success in F2 and being one of the most promising young drivers, his path to F1 was blocked due to the lack of available seats at Alpine.
If not for his manager’s decision to pursue a seat at McLaren, Piastri could have easily secured a racing seat in other categories. The Australian driver recently shared his thoughts on this matter, acknowledging that everyone has to make their own significant decisions. He believes that his choice has paid off, allowing him to pursue his dreams and ambitions in life.
Piastri is content with his decision to join McLaren, as the team has made rapid progress and established itself as one of the top teams in Formula 1. With each race, he continues to grow stronger, and all eyes will be on him during the Japanese Grand Prix.