Statement drive: Aussie driver Oscar Piastri, who has strong family ties to Shepparton, finished fourth at the British Grand Prix at the weekend. Picture: AAP
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AAP Newswire
Australian Formula One fans and the entire racing world will remember the 2023 British Grand Prix for a few highlights, but most importantly the stellar drive from rookie Oscar Piastri.
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It was a statement drive that everyone back home in Australia and supporters and family in the Goulburn Valley knew would eventually come from the young gun.
Piastri, who has strong family ties to Shepparton, secured his best finish in F1 with an eye-catching fourth after he was cruelly denied a likely podium finish due to a safety car appearance on lap 32.
Wheel to wheel driving against world champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were the highlights of a mega Grand Prix weekend — one where the exciting McLaren speedster clinched his best qualifying position of third on the grid.
This was no video game result for one of the sport’s brightest stars, he was living this out and more importantly, showcasing to fans and his rivals that he has the skills to match it with the best.
The talent has always been there, but the machinery in his maiden F1 season has held him back from delivering on his potential — until now.
McLaren’s upgrades to the MCL60 in the past fortnight gave the former Formula 2 and Formula 3 champion the tools required to compete at the front of the grid.
It is why Piastri became the first rookie to qualify inside the top three since Lance Stroll achieved the feat in 2017.
What a moment: Oscar Piastri, who has strong family ties to Shepparton, finished fourth at the British Grand Prix on Monday morning Australia time.
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Rodney Braithwaite
And in his 10th race start he almost secured the most memorable of podiums, but it was not to be.
Having ran third for the entire race, Piastri’s pit stop on lap 30 was followed by a safety car two laps later due to Kevin Magnussen’s Haas car catching ablaze.
That unfortunate event allowed Piastri’s rivals ― particularly Hamilton ― to claim a cheap pit stop and return to the track ahead of the Melbourne-born talent and hold that position until the chequered flag.
“Of course it was slightly frustrating with the safety car, I thought we were on for a podium for a very, very long time in that race, so it hurts a little bit – but I’m very, very happy that the hurt is for a podium,” Piastri said post-race.
“Given where we started this year, I’m very, very happy. Awesome result for the whole team. It was amazing to be running back at the front again and I can’t wait for more.”
