Only 20 in the world. A sport that is followed globally offers very less choice to the viewer to pick their favorite. However, if someone from your homeland makes it to the grid, then that choice becomes an even easier one. Albert Park will host the upcoming Grand Prix, which will see the rookie Oscar Piastri come face-to-face with the fame that the apex of motor sporting offers. While it may be an overwhelming and draining situation for the youngest driver on the grid, McLaren has a plan laid out to avoid it.
McLaren and Australia’s saga continues as, even though they ousted Daniel Ricciardo, they brought in another man from down under as a replacement. While that may be a coincidence, home GP stress won’t be one. As ahead of the race in one’s homeland, a plethora of activities is lined up to cater to the thousands of fans. But since the situation at the Woking outfit doesn’t seem to resolve, any added stress won’t be fruitful for the drivers.
As quoted by Speedcafe, the team’s TP, Andrea Stella, describing Piastri, said, “He is a very calm guy. I think he will be able to keep himself in the bubble.” He further added, “Certainly we’ll have to make sure that he can stay focused on the racing, and he stays focused on keeping up with this exceptional rate of development session after session.”
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While the minor glitch in the bigger scheme of things seems handled in advance, where do the major glitches stand?
What does Oscar Piastri’s home GP have in store for McLaren?
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The team that got kicked by Alpine from claiming the crown of the midfield has had the worst start of 2023. While there was a brief moment of respite when Oscar put his machine in the Q3, everything before and after that was a nightmare. Despite the poorest showing and luck, the team believes the upcoming GP will be favorable for them.
Assessing the track conditions of the Australian GP, Stella said, “Looking at the track, in terms of Tarmac, grip, speed of the corners, I would say it should be more similar to Saudi than Bahrain.” He further stated, “So we look forward to that race in terms of being able again to challenge for Q3 and then challenge for points.”
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Do you think the Papaya team can turn it around? Let us know in the comments below.