McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in Confident Mood ahead of ‘Tough’ F1 Baptism

Rookie McLaren driver Oscar Piastri Sunday mentioned he believed he might beat new teammate Lando Norris in his maiden Formula One season, however admitted a steep studying curve awaited him.

The 21-year-old, seen as one of the game’s hottest younger skills, will make his bow in Bahrain testing this month after changing fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who has returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver.

Piastri mentioned he had confidence in his capacity to higher Britain’s Norris, however was additionally life like about expectations.

Asked if he might beat Norris, Piastri instructed Australian nationwide broadcaster ABC: “Yeah, I feel so.

“I feel everybody has to have that self-belief that they’ll win, or in the event that they’re not in a place to win to do the perfect that they’ll with what they’ve.”

But the Australian mentioned his foremost focus in 2023 was to set the foundations for a protracted F1 profession.

“Putting (points and wins) numbers on my expectations is pretty difficult, especially in F1, I think it will depend where we are as a team, where the car is at,” he mentioned.

“For me, a profitable yr could be me setting the foundations for later in the yr and the years to return, hopefully, and doing the whole lot the precise means from the start… beginning good habits.

“If there’s any outcomes that come out of that, then that’s a bonus.”

Piastri was caught in a tug-of-war between Alpine — where he was a reserve driver — and McLaren last year with the former claiming he was contracted to them, even announcing him as part of their 2023 line-up.

But the Australian forced them into an embarrassing U-turn when he said he had no such arrangement.

An International Motoring Federation (FIA) arbitration panel judged in McLaren’s favour, which saw the under-performing Ricciardo’s contract terminated a year early so Piastri could join.

Piastri received plenty of negative publicity at the time and told ABC there had been “not too much” contact with Ricciardo since.

But he mentioned he was grateful for the way in which his fellow Australian dealt with the scenario.

“We bought in contact via texts I assume as soon as the whole lot had unfolded final yr and he was very supportive of me each personally and on the media entrance as properly… which I’m very grateful for,” he said.

“I’m sure I will see him around in the F1 paddock this year, he’s back working with Red Bull.”

Piastri’s credentials face their first take a look at on the opening race of the season in Bahrain in two weeks’ time, earlier than an enormous event at his residence Grand Prix in Melbourne, the place he was born, on April 2.

“I grew up 10-Quarter-hour down the street from Albert Park,” he mentioned of the Australian Formula One circuit which is able to host the third race of the 2023 season.

“I was there last year as a reserve driver and it was a pretty electric atmosphere. So knowing that the crowd is going to be there, with me as the home driver now. It’s going to be a very special event.”

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