P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Veteran McLaren race engineer Tom Stallard has backed Oscar Piastri to win a Formula 1 title in the near future as the Australian’s stock continues to rise following his dominant Baku win.
Piastri made a thrilling entrance into Formula 1 in 2022, switching from Alpine to McLaren following a dramatic fallout, which caused quite a stir in the F1 community. His impact was immediate, securing a memorable victory over Max Verstappen in the 2023 Qatar Sprint race, becoming one of only two drivers to achieve this feat. Throughout this season, Piastri’s success continued to grow, claiming wins in Hungary and Baku, showcasing impressive defensive skills against Charles Leclerc. His race engineer, Stallard, praised Piastri’s continuous development and predicted a bright future, suggesting he could be the first Australian since Alan Jones in 1980 to clinch an F1 title. Stallard also highlighted Piastri’s emerging leadership qualities, crucial for a championship contender, emphasizing the importance of self-belief in such a competitive sport. As Piastri’s progress shows no signs of slowing down, Stallard identified his potential to inspire and lead a team, transforming into a key figure within McLaren and the wider racing community.