“Easy to Forget”: Oscar Piastri Hailed by Trusted Ally for Overcoming Adversity to Challenge Lando Norris

Ever since Oscar Piastri came into the Formula 1 picture in 2022, he’s made headlines whenever he could. From Alpine and McLaren fighting over him last season to becoming the Jim Halpert of the grid since the Austrian GP, he’s accepted the challenge F1 brings and is thriving in it. Considering this is his rookie season, he’s the youngest driver on the grid, and he’s stepping up to the Lando Norris challenge every race weekend, there’s one aspect of his career that isn’t talked about enough. But his manager and former Red Bull driver Mark Webber brought it to light.

As a driver who partnered with Sebastian Vettel in his prime, Webber knows how challenging it can be to keep up with your teammate. Seeing how it hasn’t taken Piastri any time to get on par with Norris (and even outperforming him as he did at the Belgian GP), Webber had nothing but praises to shower on his protege. While discussing Piastri’s performances this season, Webber said, as quoted by F1.com, “I think it’s still so easy to forget that Oscar didn’t race last year. I think the start of the year, it does take time. It’s his first time in F1, it’s not like he’s returning from a break. He’s been away 15 months and has never raced in F1!”

After winning the F3 and F2 championships in consecutive years in 2020 and 2021, he spent 2022 with Alpine as its reserve driver. So without having driven for more than a year, Piastri got into an F1 car for the first time and is already challenging a relatively experienced driver in Norris. Webber continued, “He’s had a phenomenal, phenomenal entry in his first year. But being Oscar, he will continue to work on where he can improve and keep getting better.”

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While Piastri was the primary recipient of Webber’s praise, the veteran Australian didn’t pass up the opportunity to praise Norris as well.

Lando Norris is the benchmark for Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri has undoubtedly established himself as a force to reckon with in F1. Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner even mentioned how he regrets not bringing Piastri into the Red Bull Driver Program when he had the chance. But the thing is, Piastri’s performances wouldn’t have gotten the amount of exposure they have had it not been for Lando Norris. Webber pointed out just that.

He said, “Lando has been exceptional, Lando’s top drawer, we know that. And Oscar has just held himself in such… Of course, we’re all very proud of him.” Had it not been for how well Piastri has done relative to Norris, there could’ve been a possibility that his performances would’ve flown under the radar. But because Norris has made his name as one of the most talented drivers on the grid, Piastri has followed suit as well.

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Were you aware that Oscar Piastri hadn’t raced for over a year before joining F1?