Oscar Piastri claims he needed to prove he wasn’t a ‘pushover’ in his debut season

Oscar Piastri established himself as one of the most talented F1 rookies in recent years.

Oscar Piastri claims he needed to prove he wasn’t a ‘pushover’ in his debut season

Oscar Piastri [L], Lando Norris [R] (image via IMAGO)

Oscar Piastri made his highly-anticipated F1 debut in 2023 with McLaren. The Australian driver had high expectations to match in his rookie season after a contract saga with Alpine. Nevertheless, Piastri delivered some impressive results and won a long-term contract with the Woking-based team. Now, the 22-year-old has highlighted how he needed to prove himself in his first season.

The Australian driver was asked if he was underestimated by his peers in his rookie season. Oscar Piastri reckoned that he was respected by other drivers in 2023. Moreover, the 22-year-old pointed out that he has always tried to race fairly while pushing himself to the limit. Piastri had even managed to match his teammate Lando Norris on a few occasions.

Not so much. Of course, there's an element of respect and I guess racing people how you want to be raced in some ways. I guess I always try and race people hard, but fair.
Oscar Piastri told Motorsport.com

The McLaren driver admitted that it was crucial for a driver to solidify their place at the start of their career. Oscar Piastri claimed that he had to prove to the grid that he was not a pushover. As such a reputation could’ve harmed his career in the long run. The 22-year-old certainly showcased his talent in the 2023 F1 season.

FS Video
At the beginning of the season or beginning of your career, it's always important to show it to people that you're not a pushover because it's not a nice thing to have.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to go head-to-head in 2024

Lando Norris managed to outperform Oscar Piastri in 2023. The Briton had a comfortable lead over the debutant in the standings. However, Piastri delivered some impressive drivers, including the Sprint victory at the Qatar GP. Subsequently, McLaren gave the 22-year-old a long-term contract that extends till the end of 2026.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris (image via IMAGO)

Piastri would be looking to make substantial progress in the upcoming F1 season. The Australian driver aims to potentially outperform Lando Norris over the course of the 2024 season. However, it will be an uphill task as Norris remains one of the most talented drivers on the grid. Nevertheless, fans could expect some exciting on-track fights between the two McLaren drivers.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris would be looking to challenge at the front of the grid this year. McLaren made stellar progress in the second half of the 2023 season. Subsequently, Piastri and Norris could potentially find themselves in some good opportunities in the upcoming season. However, it remains to be seen how things pan out for the Woking-based team.

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