Oscar Piastri has made it clear that early victories are key to a successful title challenge, drawing on the lessons of Max Verstappen’s dominance in last year’s Formula 1 season. Verstappen’s ability to capitalize on early-season opportunities was critical in his eventual title win, and Piastri, fresh off a stunning win in the Chinese Grand Prix, believes this approach will be just as important in his own pursuit of the championship.
Last season, Verstappen seized control of the title race by winning seven of the first ten races, creating an unassailable lead. Although the competition tightened as the season progressed, with McLaren and Ferrari pushing Red Bull hard in the second half of the year, Verstappen’s early dominance left him with enough of a cushion to secure the championship despite only two wins in the final 14 rounds. For Piastri, the key takeaway from Verstappen’s success is that every race counts, particularly when you have the car to capitalize on in the early part of the season.
“It’s still very early, obviously,” Piastri acknowledged. “But regardless of how short or long the championship is, you need to maximize the car you have at every race. We saw last year that Verstappen was able to win the championship by taking full advantage of his car in the first part of the season. He did a great job in the second half too, but he built that gap when he had the chance.”
Piastri’s own performance is a perfect example of this mindset in action. While he’s not yet focusing on the championship picture, he understands how vital it is to make the most of every opportunity.
“You never know when someone else is going to find some extra pace with an upgrade or tweak how they’re running the car. There are always small margins that can make a difference,” he said. “So, you want to take advantage of every opportunity, but I’m not thinking about the championship just yet. As much of a cliché as it is, it’s true for a reason: you have to focus on one weekend at a time because that’s ultimately how you win a championship – by maximizing every single weekend.”
Piastri’s victory in the Grand Prix marked a significant milestone, not only as his first win of the season but also as a testament to his and McLaren’s ability to adapt and improve over the course of the weekend. After finishing second in the Sprint, Piastri and his team worked hard to unlock the potential of the car, overcoming early challenges to secure the win.
“It’s incredibly rewarding. Obviously, it’s always a great feeling when you cross the line first, that’s obvious, but for me, this has been the most satisfying weekend—not just the race but the entire weekend,” Piastri shared, reflecting on the success. “The two wins I had previously were very different, but this one felt the most complete. I’m really, really pleased with the effort from the entire team this weekend.”
The journey to this victory was not without its difficulties. Piastri and McLaren faced a challenging start, with the car’s speed proving difficult to harness at times. However, they worked tirelessly to adapt and find solutions that allowed them to exploit the car’s full potential.
“We started with a car that was quick but a bit tricky at times, and I think we did a really good job of working through that,” Piastri explained. “To come away with this result feels like the perfect end to what’s been a great weekend for the whole team. It’s rewarding to see all the hard work come together.”
As Piastri continues his journey in Formula 1, it’s clear that he’s not just focused on the immediate thrill of individual wins, but also on the bigger picture of consistency and seizing every opportunity as it arises. With the lessons of last year’s title race firmly in mind, he’s setting himself up for a season that could be full of excitement and success, one race at a time.