Oscar Piastri prepares for ‘legendary’ corner as McLaren’s wheels of fortune keep turning in Japan

F1 is booming for popularity and Piastri versus Norris promises to be a classic in-house fight. Euphoric for the winner, devastating for the loser. They have identical cars … may the best driver win.

Oscar Piastri (R) and second-placed McLaren driver Lando Norris (L) celebrate on the podium after the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix. Picture: AFP

Zak Brown is an exuberant Californian who purchased his first go-kart after winning a few grand on Wheel of Fortune as a 1980s teenager. Now he’s the puppetmaster for the real wheels of fortune … the supersonic McLaren MCL39s piloted by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in this year’s thunderous race for the Formula One drivers’ championship.

As F1’s big, beautiful, bold, bustling, bewitching circus converges on the electrifying Suzuka circuit for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, where it will be lights out on the day Piastri blows out 24 candles on his birthday cake, Brown has penned a letter to McLaren fans in which he talks up Piastri while subtly, and perhaps unintentionally, confirming the pecking order in the papaya garage. Every time Brown mentions his drivers, it’s “Lando and Oscar,” clearly his No. 1 and No.2.

For now. Norris won the Australian Grand Prix but Piastri was masterful in winning the Chinese Grand Prix, starting on pole and clinging to the lead like a leech. Three F1 races will be held in the next three breathless weeks – in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – after which Piastri may well be atop the rankings. Gut feeling? Each race is another chapter in Australia’s sports yarn of the year – a likeable young dude from Melbourne claiming one of the most prestigious titles in the global sporting kingdom.

“The Australian Grand Prix was a tense affair, but I was delighted to see Lando get off to the perfect start, with pole, the fastest lap and victory, to lead the drivers’ championship for the first time in his career,” Brown writes. “And it was great to see Oscar get his first pole position and win the Chinese Grand Prix to give McLaren our 50th 1-2 in Formula 1. One thing is clear: after winning the constructors’ title last season, we are laser-focused on retaining that crown but also intent on striving for the drivers’ championship as well.”

Brown continues: “Oscar’s rapid development and maturity over his two seasons in Formula 1 has been outstanding. His performance last year was pivotal in securing our constructors’ championship, demonstrating the value of a strong driver pairing. His synergy with Lando is evident both on and off the track, and they’re pushing each other to new heights. The strength of their partnership puts McLaren in a fantastic position for the challenges ahead. I’m extremely excited by the prospects of our two stars. With Lando and Oscar forming what I believe is the most exciting driver pairing in Formula 1, we have every confidence in our ability to challenge at the front for years to come.”

Piastri popped onto the podium in his first start in Japan in 2023. He was eighth last year. The circuit is famous for its “130R,” arguably the greatest and fastest corner in F1. The name comes from its 130m radius, allowing overtakes at 300km/h for those courageous enough to have a crack.

“Suzuka is one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar for us as drivers,” Piastri says. “130R is legendary and the combination of fast corners and the fact that the circuit has remained the same for so many years means it’s an incredible feeling to race here. To arrive in Japan after a race win in China is great but of course we’re aware that everything resets and we need to push again, just as hard. It’s still extremely close at the front so we need to deliver in every area. I’m excited to get back on track and put on a great race for the incredibly passionate Japanese fans.”

McLaren’s wheels of fortune, driven by Piastri and Norris, well, Lando and Oscar, according to the boss, look unbeatable. They would have finished one-two in Melbourne without four seasons of weather in about five minutes. They were untouchable in China. Brown knows a world champion is potentially in his garage. He just doesn’t quite know who it is.

What we all understand for certain is that F1 is booming for popularity and Piastri versus Norris promises to be a classic in-house fight. Euphoric for the winner, devastating for the loser. They have identical cars … may the best driver win.

“Personally, I don’t think F1 has yet hit its peak,” Brown writes. “Recent data reveals the Formula 1 fanbase now extends to 826.5 million worldwide, adding nearly 90 million new fans last year. Global TV viewership is up, and in the US, in particular, F1 remains one of the fastest-growing markets, expanding by 10.5 per cent to 52 million fans between 2023 and 2024. The season-opening Australian Grand Prix also saw a record attendance of 465,498 spectators – 13,000 more than last year. I know that all of those fans were there to support Oscar! But it was amazing to see so many papaya-coloured T-shirts, caps and flags around the Albert Park circuit.”

In a letter nearly as long as two of the lengthiest books ever published, Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace and Steve Waugh’s Out Of My Comfort Zone, Brown adds: “It’s not just in Australia. It’s the same wherever we race, from Shanghai to Silverstone, Miami to Mexico City. McLaren fans, your unwavering support, passion, and dedication are what make this sport so special. Whether you’re cheering trackside, watching from home, or engaging with us online, you’re an essential part of the McLaren family. We race for you, and we couldn’t do it without you. Here’s to another incredible season. Never stop racing.”

The sprightly, engaging, chatty, 53-year-old Brown was a sprightly, engaging, chatty 13-year-old when he appeared on Wheel of Fortune as part of Teen Week. He won $US3500 for assembling the letters to the name of Wild Bill Hickock. He blushed and clapped and giggled and said, “I don’t even know who that is!” He’s been laughing ever since, all the way to the bank, all the way to the top job at McLaren, all the way to guiding either Piastri or Norris to the world title.