Piastri on verge of F1 rookie record

Although the discrepancies are numerous and important to note, Oscar Piastri’s first Formula 1 season has him on the verge of potentially breaking the modern rookie points record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2007.

The open wheel jet from Brighton, Victoria, is only 26 points away from creating history in the modern F1 era after his big points haul in Qatar, and he stands on the edge of Hamilton’s rookie season points record of 109.

Although the seasons are in no way comparable, with Hamilton bursting onto the scene in devastating fashion with four victories and nine consecutive podium finishes to finish second in the championship, it’s a huge record for Piastri to claim.

The differences in the achievements do have many variables…In 2007 the points for a win were 10 points as compared to today’s 25, and there were also less races – 17 in 2007 for example.  There were also no Sprint Race points, or points for a fastest lap in the race.

Piastri scored his highest Grand Prix to date at Qatar with a P2 behind Verstappen. Image: Zak Mauger / LAT Images.

He has also surpassed Jacques Villeneuve’s 1996 rookie haul of 78 points, where the Canadian also took four wins and finished second in the championship. But like Hamilton, who’s McLaren MP4-22 car was a contending machine, Villeneuve also had the formidable FW18 Williams machine that Damon Hill won the title with.

Piastri (83 points after Qatar) is now third on the all-time list below Alex Albon (92 – 2019) and compared to other current F1 drivers, he’s comfortably above Max Verstappen (49 – 2015), and his teammate Lando Norris (49 – 2019).

Aside from the Sprint Race points which came into calculation in the 2021 season at Silverstone, his record is more comparable to those set by Albon and Norris in 2019 in terms of amounts of races in a season (21 in 2019), and even without the extra points now available, he would have surpassed them at any rate.

Hamilton’s explosive debut season in 2007 saw him finish second in the title race in the McLaren MP4-22. Image: LAT

Impressively, Piastri entered F1 with an enormous amount of pressure after the contract dispute between Alpine and McLaren, as well driving an initially underwhelming MCL60 that was deemed as non competitive by the McLaren team that built it.

His workman-like approach to tracks that he’d only ever experienced on the simulator has also been impressive, where he has used the (at times limited) practice sessions to hone his approach for qualifying and race day.

Piastri has five races left to conquer the points record, which include this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, and the season closer at Abu Dhabi.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said recently that, “You don’t see these kinds of talents in Formula 1 every day. He is an absolute reference even if he is a rookie.”

Whilst his teammate Norris – with Piastri claiming a an F1 win before the Brit has in his fifth season – said, “He’s done everything he’s needed to and probably exceeded most people’s expectations from what he’s been able to achieve already this season.He’s pushed me a lot — it’s not a nice thing, it’s not what I want! — but he’s done a very good job.”

Norris (third) congratulates Piastri for finishing second in Losial. Image: LAT

In a year where Red Bull have been essentially unbeatable baring the Singapore GP, and with Piastri having to hunt down the likes of Hamilton, George Russell, Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and his own teammate to achieve his recent podiums and race wins, it makes his efforts worthy of the record, albeit with an asterisk to define the vast difference in era’s.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION or subscribe HERE

Listen to our latest podcast episode here or on your podcast app of choice.