Oscar piastri
1. Who is Oscar Piastri?
Oscar Piastri is an Australian driver born on April 6, 2001, currently a Formula 1 driver for McLaren after having been a reserve Alpine.
2. Oscar Piastri's career in promotional formulas
After his winter debut in Formula 4 UAE, where he reached the podium twice, Oscar Piastri completed his first year of single-seater racing in British F4. Within the TRS Arden Junior Team, the Australian finished vice-champion, behind Jamie Caroline despite 6 victories and as many pole positions. Still with Arden, the young man born in Melbourne takes the extra step to the Formula Renault Eurocup.
In a hotly contested championship in which Arden has never played a leading role, Piastri had a successful rookie season by signing three podiums and an encouraging 8th place in the championship. The following ? A hellish and uninterrupted march forward marked by a historic triptych with the championship titles in Formula Renault (2019), Formula 3 (2020) and Formula 2 (2021).
In 2019, first, Oscar signed for R-ace GP, the Vendée team which had just been champion with Max Fewtrell. Very consistent throughout the season, he got the better of Victor Martins, his fierce French opponent, whom he beat for 7,5 points during a high-tension final contested in Abu Dhabi. His title obtained in this championship organized by Renault allows him to join the Renault Sport Academy, and thus become part of the brand's fold.
For his year of Formula 3 (FIA F3), he joined the ranks of the dominant Prema team. Thanks to absolute consistency but without being excessively flamboyant, he won a new title under the nose of Théo Pourchaire, his French rival two years his junior. That year, Piastri did not sign a single pole, raising his arms twice for six podiums, which precisely allowed him to glean the title.
Oscar Piastri, winner of Formula 2 in his first year. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI
Quite naturally, he remains with Prema in Formula 2 (FIA F2) and is associated with the best rookie of last season, Robert Shwartzman, who also happens to be his predecessor on the Formula 3 prize list.
To the consistency was added what he had lacked the year before: speed over a lap. Judge for yourself: the Aussie has taken five of the season's eight pole positions (the last five!) for five victories and eleven podiums. The ex-pilot Alpine flew through the debates despite his rookie status and even won with a 60,5 point lead.
3. Oscar Piastri’s Grand Prix journey (Formula 1)
Despite a meteoric trajectory and three titles gleaned in as many seasons, Oscar Piastri remains without a seat and is forced into the role of reserve driver. The Aussie may well be highly regarded by the brand with the A arrow, but he was barred by Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, still under contract with Alpine.
Oscar Piastri is patient in 2022, as reserve driver at Alpine. © Julien Delfosse / DPPI
Alonso's surprise departure for Aston Martin pushes Alpine to establish Piastri immediately. Problem: the Australian has already signed up with McLaren, who has decided to replace a disappointing Daniel Ricciardo.
After an extra-sporting standoff, Woking won their case and enlisted the young Australian alongside Lando Norris, whileAlpine is forced to look for an alternative solution.
4. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Piastri
Oscar Piastri has quite simply achieved the most impressive career in recent years in promotional formulas. The Aussie indeed won the three main titles in a row, without however being able to move directly into F1. Endowed with astonishing racing intelligence, Oscar Piastri has always been able to manage the strong and weak times of races, while knowing when to delay and when to attack.
During his year in F2, while he had until then experienced quite a bit of difficulty on one lap, last year he added speed in qualifying to his qualities by winning 5 of the 8 poles. Appointed reservist Alpine, the French manufacturer (unfortunately) let him go to McLaren at the end of an extra-sporting saga which enlivened the summer of 2022.
5. Learn more about Oscar Piastri
associated researches
Drivers of his generation
