F1 2023: Australian Oscar Piastri ‘itching’ to begin F1 career for Mclaren

Oscar Piastri is pumped to start his F1 journey this weekend, but knows the challenge that awaits him as McLaren reveal their targets for the young Aussie and the team this season.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 23: Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL60 Mercedes on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 23, 2023 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Australian young gun Oscar Piastri says he is feeling optimistic about his debut Formula 1 season as McLaren sets its sights on reclaiming a place in the “best four” teams this year, despite its pre-season struggles.

After a challenging pre-season test for the team in Bahrain last week, Piastri will make his long-awaited F1 debut at the same circuit this weekend after spending a year watching on from the garage as a reserve driver for Alpine last year.

The 21-year-old Melbourne racer’s debut has been a highly-anticipated one, not only from Australia’s perspective as the country’s next Formula One driver, but as one of the hottest young talents to arrive in the sport following a standout junior career.

Stepping into the McLaren seat vacated by countryman and eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo, Piastri said he was “itching” to begin his F1 career and felt prepared for the challenges ahead of him on track.

“I’m excited for my first race in Formula 1 and for it to be in papaya is really special. I’ve been waiting a long time for my Formula 1 debut so it’s great that the moment is finally here,” Piastri said.

Oscar Piastri. Picture: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

“I’m feeling prepared for the challenges ahead and to get back on track in a competitive environment. It’s been a while since I last raced so I’m itching to get going again.

“The work I’ve put in with the team over the past few months and the welcome I’ve had from McLaren and the fans has set me up well for the season ahead.

“I still have a lot to learn and some bits to get my head around with the MCL60. As a team, we’ve still got a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be, but I’m feeling optimistic for the season.

“I’m looking forward to the battles, the challenges and everything ahead of me as I properly kick start this journey.”

The pre-season preparations for McLaren were far from smooth with the team completing the lowest lap count of all 10 teams during the three-day pre-season test as the team battled regular front winglet issues.

The McLaren hierarchy were open about the team’s struggles, admitting the papaya outfit had not met development targets.

While acknowledging the team had “challenges on the horizon”, team principal Andrea Stella said McLaren’s aim remained to reclaim a place in the top four this season.

McLaren finished fifth in the constructor’s championship last year behind Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Alpine.

“We’ve got a long season ahead of us, 23 races and some challenges on the horizon, but we can count on an exciting new driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, a team of hard-working and talented people …we feel the strength of this united team,” Stella said.

“It’s too early to make predictions about how the grid will shape up, but we have our sights set on reclaiming a place within the best four teams over the course of the year.

“We know it will be challenging and we have a lot of work to do, but we’re optimistic about the season as a whole.”

Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris, entering his fifth season in Formula One, said McLaren had been able to make some “tweaks” following the pre-season test to help improve the car’s performance.

“Testing wasn’t without its challenges, but we’re working hard to continue to push us forward to get us back to where we want to be on the grid,” Norris said.

“We’ve learned a lot about the car, and we’ve already implemented some tweaks to optimise performance where we can.”

PIASTRI’S WARNING TO AUSSIE F1 FANS

Callum Dick

Australian Formula 1 rookie Oscar Piastri has tempered early season expectations declaring he and McLaren anticipate “a bit of rustiness” after a season sitting on the sidelines.

The 21-year-old is just 10 days out from his maiden F1 start at the Bahrain Grand Prix and all eyes will be on the former Formula 3 and Formula 2 world champion, who joins the paddock as one of the most talked-about rookies in history.

“Everyone is coming into this year in the team with the knowledge I haven’t raced for over a year now,” Piastri told Fox Sports in an interview airing on Friday night.

“Myself, I’m realistic about that as well – there will be a bit of rustiness. I’m also entering F1, it’s not a walk in the park. So yeah, I think we’re all realistic about how long it will take to learn.”

Adding to the pressure on Piastri is the narrative around his arrival at McLaren, which resulted in fellow Aussie and fan-favourite Daniel Ricciardo being shown the door with a year to run on his contract.

Ricciardo’s struggles in the papaya alongside teammate Lando Norris were well-documented and the eight-time grand prix winner was only given so long of a leash before the team decided to look elsewhere.

Oscar Piastri during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit. Picture: Getty Images

Team principal Zak Brown quickly became enamoured with the idea of partnering Piastri with fellow prodigy Norris and after a tug of war with Alpine for the young Aussie’s services, the deal was done.

Despite Ricciardo’s pedigree he struggled to come to terms with the unique driving requirements of the McLaren – something even Norris, who fared much better, admitted was a struggle.

How Piastri is able to adapt to the car when compared to Norris will be one of the key talking points early in the season. But the Victorian says he doesn’t feel pressure to immediately perform.

“There is a lot to learn (but) I’m in a very different situation to Daniel,” Piastri said.

“I think there’s definitely time for me to learn.

“Last year, being a reserve driver, I learned quite a lot about the off-track goings on of an F1 driver but now I’m really looking forward to doing the part that we’re all here for, which is driving the car.”

Piastri quickly discovered there is little anonymity as an F1 driver when he was snapped taking a McLaren for a spin in Melbourne, with what looked like Ricciardo in the passenger seat.

He quickly shot down those rumours, revealing it was a friend riding shotgun, before revealing he and Ricciardo had not spoken since the days after the contract saga concluded.

Oscar Piastri drives the McLaren MCL60 Mercedes on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit. Picture: Getty Images

“We obviously got in touch after everything that unfolded last year and he’s been very supportive of me both personally and also in the media, which I’m very thankful for,” Piastri said.

“I think there’s not really much more than that and I don’t think there needs to be much more than that.

“Obviously he’s back at Red Bull now working for them so I’m sure I’ll see him in the paddock sometime soon.”

Piastri got his first laps in with the MCL60 during testing in Bahrain this week.

Blink and he’ll be back home in Melbourne, readying to race at Albert Park on April 2.

“I think until I get there it probably won’t sink in – I’ve got a lot of other things going on at the moment trying to prepare for the season, so I’ve been focused on that,” he said.

“I grew up 10 or 15 minutes from the track, so to be able to go and race there now – my first race in Australia since I was in go-carts – it’s my first race at home in a long time … almost in my backyard, so it’s a special feeling.”

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Originally published as F1 2023: Australian Oscar Piastri ‘itching’ to begin F1 career for Mclaren