McLaren’s Rising Star: The Transformation of Oscar Piastri in F1

In just his third season with McLaren, Australian racing sensation Oscar Piastri has proven to be a game-changer. From rookie to team player, to undisputed championship leader, the young prodigy is rewriting the rules of Formula 1.

The Controversial Beginnings and the Rise to Glory

Piastri’s journey in F1 was not without its share of drama. Replacing fan-favorite Daniel Ricciardo, his appointment at McLaren almost ended up in court as two teams fought over his talents. Many questioned if he could live up to the hype. But more than 50 race starts later, those doubts have been silenced.

Sitting 16 points clear of his championship rival and teammate Lando Norris, Piastri has taken the Formula 1 world by storm. While McLaren‘s impressive step forward this year cannot be ignored, it is Piastri’s transformation that has truly captured our attention.

The Key to Piastri’s Success: Mastering Tyre Management

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes that Piastri’s jump to the front of the pack cannot be wholly attributed to the new MCL39. In fact, Stella credits Piastri’s improvement in tyre management as a major factor in his success this season.

Previously struggling with tyre management, Piastri has significantly improved in this area, enhancing his racecraft and exploiting the improvements made to the car. According to Stella, this improvement is not a coincidence but rather the result of hard work by both Piastri and the engineers around him.

The McLaren has been easy on its tyres throughout the 2025 season, with both Piastri and Norris managing to get more life out of their Pirelli rubber compared to their rivals. Some speculate that this could be due to water cooling, but Stella attributes it primarily to Piastri’s improved tyre management skills.

The Battle for the Championship: Piastri vs. Norris

In Miami, Piastri cemented his lead at the front of the pack while Norris was unable to catch up in the closing stages of the race. Stella attributes this to the time lost by Norris in two situations with Max Verstappen and the wear on Norris’s Pirelli rubber.

Despite Piastri’s impressive lead, Stella remains optimistic about Norris’s chances in future races. He believes that the battle between the two McLaren drivers will be an exciting one to watch.

The Misconception of Piastri’s Overtaking Skills

Stella dismisses suggestions that Piastri is a better overtaker than Norris, despite Piastri passing Verstappen on the first attempt and Norris taking multiple attempts at the same move. He encourages us not to read too much into these situations.

In terms of overtaking maneuvers, precision, and determination, Stella sees no difference between the two drivers. The key to Piastri’s success lies in his ability to master tyre management and exploit the improvements made to the car.