Mark Webber believes that Oscar Piastri’s attack and then flawless defense against Charles Leclerc in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was “one of the drives I’ve seen him pull off”.
While Leclerc led the first part of the race from pole, shadowed by Piastri, the Aussie’s switch from the medium to the hard tyre on lap 15 of 51 almost dropped him into the clutches of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Fortunately, Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris was critically able to hinder the Mexican driver’s pace, which handed the Aussie the gap he needed to remain ahead and focus on overhauling Leclerc.
Piastri did just that with a bold move at Baku’s Turn 1 on lap 20. But the 23-year-old’s staunch defense of his leading position against Leclerc for the remainder of the race was of particular interest to Webber.
“The whole year he’s been very consistent, very quick in all conditions and I think, yeah that was one of the best drives I’ve ever seen him pull off,” Webber told Sky Sports F1 as he reflected on his protégé’s impressive display.
“Under a lot of pressure, very defensive decisive in the move itself and up against a world class driver – Charles [Leclerc] around here is absolutely magical so to beat him around here is a pretty big deal.”
Piastri claimed in Baku his second career win in Formula 1, but contrary to Hungary, there were no team orders to facilitate his win.
Webber emphasized the significance of the McLaren charger’s victory in Azerbaijan as well as his ability to overcome challenges and execute flawlessly.
“Both victories have been very special to him,” commented the former F1 driver. “But to do as he did today, you know, learning, sitting behind Charles in the first stint, actually ran out of a bit of range at the end of the first stint. And then they sent him a bit longer than they’d have liked, left him a bit exposed to Sergio [Perez].
“[He] just did Sergio and then he knuckled down to get the job done. To pull off a Grand Prix like that around a place like this, disciplined, getting the move done, and then leading from the front was pretty world class to say the least.
“People forget… he didn’t have the upgrade in Miami and then since Miami he’s been one of the biggest points scorers if not the biggest point scorer.
“People are very quick to look at it, oh it’s not quite – it’s a perception thing, he’s done an extraordinary job, as has Lando [Norris] and the whole team at McLaren.”
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