Piastri hails McLaren’s leadership as key to his F1 breakthrough

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Oscar Piastri’s rise in Formula 1 has been nothing short of remarkable, and the young Australian driver is quick to credit the exceptional leadership and support within McLaren for his rapid ascent.

In just his sophomore season, Piastri has already claimed his first Grand Prix victory, a milestone achieved at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he led a McLaren one-two finish.

The 23-year-old’s journey to the top step of the podium is a testament to the dramatic turnaround McLaren has experienced over the past 12 months.

After a challenging start to the 2023 season, a series of mid-season upgrades transformed the team into a genuine front-runner.

This momentum has only continued in 2024, with the MCL38 emerging as a car capable of challenging Red Bull’s mighty RB20, and McLaren now sits just 42 points behind Max Verstappen’s team Red Bull in the constructors' championship.

Central to McLaren's resurgence is the leadership duo of CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella who took over the day-to-day running of the team from Andreas Seidl in December 2022.

The Italian’s impact is built on a foundation of experience and a calm, steady hand at the helm, qualities that have resonated throughout the McLaren organization.

His restructuring of the technical team revitalized the squad, transforming last year’s MCL60 into a podium contender and pushing the team even further in 2024.

Piastri is unequivocal in his praise for Stella’s influence on both the team and his own career in F1.

“Andrea has been a pivotal part in McLaren's success, and my success in F1,” he told Speedcafe.

“Firstly, I think his background in the sport helps a lot in terms of experience, in terms of race-winning experience, championship-winning experience.

“He knows what it's like, which helps, but I think more so than that, just the natural leadership that he has is remarkable.

“It's been very nice working with him as a team principal.”

While Stella has been instrumental in the daily management of the team, Zak Brown’s strategic oversight has been equally crucial.

As CEO, Brown has not only focused on the commercial aspects of McLaren but also played a key role in recruitment, including the pivotal decision to bring Piastri into the fold.

When Piastri’s future at Alpine was uncertain, and Daniel Ricciardo was struggling for form, Brown made the bold move to secure the young talent, a decision that has paid off handsomely.

Piastri is fully aware of the significance of Brown’s faith in him, acknowledging the impact it has had on his career.

"Of course, he's very involved in getting the key people in the right places, and bringing on-board all the partners that we have; whether that's to help fund the team or also to make us a faster team through technical partnerships and stuff like that," he explained.

"I get on really well with Zak as well. Quite contrasting personalities between Andrea and Zak, but I think it's quite a good balance to have."

Beyond McLaren’s strong leadership, Piastri highlighted the importance of his immediate support team in the garage and on the pit wall.

Tom Stallard, his race engineer, is a familiar face, having previously worked with Daniel Ricciardo. Alongside Stallard are Adrian Goodwin, Piastri's principal race engineer, and Cedric Michel-Grosjean, senior performance engineer.

"Getting more experience together, as well as going through some really good times, some tougher experiences as well, I think are helping build us as a group," commented the Aussie.

This close-knit collaboration has undoubtedly contributed to Piastri’s ability to deliver on track, while the combination of strong leadership, a talented team, and a competitive car has propelled McLaren into contention for race wins and podiums.

With Piastri and teammate Lando Norris at the wheel, team papaya is poised to challenge for even greater heights in the future.

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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.