Piastri reveals how Alonso 'sped up' his F1 driver development

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Oscar Piastri has hailed Fernando Alonso’s lasting influence on his Formula 1 career, crediting the two-time World Champion with helping him shape the way he approaches his craft.

The Australian driver’s journey to the top of the F1 standings has been nothing short of remarkable. After joining McLaren from Alpine in 2023, Piastri quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, securing his two Grand Prix wins in 2024 and adding seven more victories this season to lead the Drivers’ Championship by 31 points from Lando Norris.

His path, however, was not without turbulence. Initially announced as Alonso’s replacement at Alpine when the Spaniard moved to Aston Martin, Piastri’s dramatic switch to McLaren marked the beginning of his rapid rise.

Yet, it was his time at Alpine, observing Alonso’s craft up close, that laid the foundation for his success.

At Zandvoort last month, Piastri showered praise on his now Aston Martin rival, describing the Spaniard as a unique figure in F1.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Fernando,” commented the McLaren charger.

“I think he’s definitely a driver where the stats don’t tell the full story of his career, and I think he’s definitely one of the best drivers that the sport has seen. I get on well with him.

“He’s someone that’s very fierce on track, but I think he’s obviously an incredible driver whose been through a lot of different eras.”

Lessons From a Master

Alonso, now 43 and still competing at the highest level, made his F1 debut in 2001 — just weeks before Piastri was born.

Yet despite the generational gap, the Australian says he benefitted enormously from being in the same environment as Alonso during his time at Alpine.

Piastri revealed that his close-up view of Alonso’s meticulous approach left a lasting impression on how he prepares and develops as a driver.

“I think watching him work as well a few years ago was quite eye-opening in terms of the questions he was asking, the things he was thinking of, which ultimately probably indirectly sped up some of my learning a little bit,” he said.

“He’s a fantastic driver and again, I don’t think his results or stats tell honestly even close to the story of his talent.”

For Piastri, those lessons have already borne fruit. In his third season with McLaren, he has become a Grand Prix winner and now sits on the brink of joining Jack Brabham and Alan Jones as Australia’s only World Champions.

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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.