Race and classic pictures

From fan to foe: Piastri's remarkable F1 journey

As an aspiring teenage racer who had migrated from his native Australia to the UK, Oscar Piastri once stood proud in front of the imposing Red Bull Racing factory in Milton Keynes, his eyes wide with awe and dreams of Formula 1 glory.

Little did he know that years later, he would find himself on the front row of an F1 Grand Prix as a talented rookie racing with McLaren, ready to go head-to-head against Max Verstappen, the leader of the very team whose factory he had once visited.

The picture beautifully captures the essence of "How it started, how it's going," showcasing the incredible journey of a young man who turned his aspirations into a reality, transitioning from an excited young karter to a formidable competitor in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Piastri salvages silver ling despite Madrid misery

Spain was supposed to be a weekend of consolidation for McLaren, but for Oscar Piastri,…

7 hours ago

Audi junior Slater lands 2027 F2 seat with powerhouse Invicta

Freddie Slater’s rapid rise through the junior ranks is taking another significant step forward, with…

8 hours ago

Lawson opens up on the ‘tricky’ challenge of Red Bull double duty

Liam Lawson has spent the past three Formula 1 weekends with an unusual problem: preparing…

10 hours ago

Mekies defends Verstappen order: ‘Better to take the pain’

Laurent Mekies says Red Bull had little choice but to order Max Verstappen to hand…

11 hours ago

A wet-to-dry masterclass performance at Spa, à la Senna

On this day in 1985, Ayrton Senna won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, skillfully…

13 hours ago

Vasseur: ‘Staying on track made no sense’ for Hamilton

Ferrari’s decision to pull Lewis Hamilton out of the Spanish Grand Prix after just seven…

14 hours ago