P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Stella believes Oscar Piastri is performing at his “strongest” level since joining the Formula 1 grid.
McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella praises Oscar Piastri’s performance, calling it the strongest since his 2023 debut. Piastri’s resilience was evident as he bounced back from setbacks in Melbourne and Shanghai. At Suzuka, despite finishing second to Kimi Antonelli due to a safety car, Piastri showed potential for victory.
Stella emphasized Piastri’s mental strength, attitude, and strong performance, highlighting his growth in F1. The team drew inspiration from Piastri’s leadership, especially after difficulties like the double non-start in China. Stella commended Piastri for facing the challenges and stressed McLaren’s responsibility to provide competitive cars for Piastri and Lando Norris.
The unexpected competitiveness against Mercedes in Japan surprised McLaren, highlighting the need to improve the chassis for consistent performance. Future upgrades aim to enhance the car’s performance by a few tenths of a second. Stella’s acknowledgment of Piastri’s progress and the team’s dedication to improving reflects McLaren’s commitment to success in Formula 1.
