“I’m Concentrating on Myself”: Despite Zak Brown & Co.’s Brutal Snub, Oscar Piastri Vows to Prove His Worth at McLaren

Every race weekend brings a host of opportunities for disappointment for a driver. When these conditions pile on, staying motivated and focused becomes exhausting. So imagine the state of the rookie driver Oscar Piastri. The Australian has been suffering in his McLaren since the start of the season in almost every race weekend. However, Piastri is not among those who are easily demotivated. Despite getting the snub for Austria, Piastri drove brilliantly in the Sprint race. In fact, the Australian is brimming with confidence for the main race despite the points-less result in the Sprint.

Despite McLaren’s miserable start, Piastri has always been grateful to get an opportunity to race in the premier class. That could’ve changed to some extent after McLaren snubbed Piastri and favored teammate Lando Norris for the upgrade package. However, the Australian gained six places in the limited race with the old package. This scenario has filled Piastri with confidence, which he confessed to the media, as quoted by Motorsport-Total.

“I’m concentrating on myself and driving, trying to get the best out of myself. The pace was strong the whole time, with both packages,” said Piastri. (Translated by Google)

In fact, despite the P17 start in the 24-lap race, Piastri managed to finish 11th. It did not earn him any points, but it definitely gave him a massive confidence boost. “The timing of the pit stop was good, I got the temperature in the tires quite well and then when the track conditions got better with slicks we seemed to be going quite fast. It was very satisfying to get past a couple of people. It was a fun afternoon that ended up being about nothing, but sometimes that’s just part of the story,” added Piastri.

Read More: Pressure Mounts on the Rookie Oscar Piastri as He Earns Massive Praise

We are all aware of Piastri’s exploits in junior categories. These consistently strong performances over the years and mentality to navigate through the waters of formula racing aren’t possible on their own. This is why the rookie has one man to thank for being the pillar of his support.

Oscar Piastri hails one man for unwavering support and wisdom to keep him on track

From the very start of his racing career, Piastri has had one man on his side, Mark Webber. The Former F1 driver has been Piastri’s side and has kept him on track with his personal experience. The Australian former driver is definitely been a massive asset for the rookie and he has confessed that in the past.

Piastri said, “I think it was good that he [Mark Webber] reminded me before the season so I wasn’t shocked when I got here. That was probably the most important thing, but he’s also very helpful with little driver tips here and there and thinks to himself sometimes asks questions for the engineers that I can’t even think of right now, so he’s still very perceptive, thinks like a racer and always tries to get the best out of me.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Is Oscar Piastri Already Justifying His Talent By Performing Better Than Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren?

Webber already knows he has a gem in his hands. It will be interesting to see if he can help earn the rookie protege a world championship.