Oscar Piastri admits F1 issue can ‘very easily’ be ‘demoralising’ for McLaren driver

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Oscar Piastri admits that dreaming about standing on further podiums in Formula 1 can ‘very easily’ become ‘demoralising’ for the McLaren driver instead of beneficial.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a brilliant rookie campaign last year after graduating to F1 after one season on the sidelines. Piastri became the first rookie to make multiple Grand Prix podiums since Lewis Hamilton in 2007. Both drivers also realised the feat after debuting for McLaren.

Piastri enjoyed his maiden top-three finish at the Japanese GP last September, behind race-winner Max Verstappen of Red Bull plus McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Yet the Australian instantly doubled his tally with a P2 result at the Qatar GP, where Piastri also won the Sprint.

Oscar Piastri admits dreaming about podiums can be ‘demoralising’

F1 will return to Suzuka for the Japanese GP much earlier in 2024 with the race in April after the Australian GP, which is up next on March 24. Piastri ended his home race in P8 last term for his debut points for McLaren. The Melbourne native has started 2024 with a P8 and a P4.

But while Piastri finished the Saudi Arabian GP one spot off the podium, the McLaren driver seldom wants to envisage making another rostrum. He accepts that if their car is not where it needs to be to make the top three on merit, dreaming about the podium can be problematic.

“I rarely dare to dream about it,” Piastri told Speedcafe. “In Formula 1, this sport is still very dependent on both car and driver – a lot of car. If you’re in the slowest car on the grid, you’re not going to win a race or a championship. It’s as simple as that.

“No matter how hard you try or want it, it’s not going to happen for you. So, trying to wish those things or dream about them can very easily become demoralising instead of constructive.”

McLaren have finished 23.348s and 13.368s behind the top three so far

Piastri finished the Saudi Arabian GP 13.368 seconds off Charles Leclerc as the Ferrari driver sealed the last podium spot. Sergio Perez also crossed the finish line 23.364 seconds ahead of the Australian to give Red Bull another one-two finish 8.643 seconds behind Verstappen.

A five-second time penalty brought Perez closer to Leclerc and Piastri on the timesheet but did not influence the result. McLaren would have also needed a lot of penalties to make the podium at the Bahrain GP with Norris in P6 23.348s off P3 and Piastri 30.972s away with P8.