Piastri’s first F1 win

This weekend Oscar Piastri returns to the scene of his first victory in Formula 1, the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint.

Qatar was the 17th race of the 2023 Formula 1 season and took place on the same weekend as the Bathurst 1000, with Piastri ensuring celebrations carried on deep into Monday morning.

Before the trip to Lusail, Piastri had already been producing an impressive rookie campaign highlighted by top five finishes at Silverstone, Hungary and Japan.

The 22-year-old was high on confidence following his first podium at Suzuka a week earlier and was already aiming for more.

Piastri started from pole after topping the Sprint Shootout with a 1:24.454, which was the best part of a tenth clear of teammate Lando Norris.

Piastri enjoyed an untroubled journey through Turn 1 as he lit it up off the line, while Norris and Verstappen bogged it down and lost spots.

However, the Australian was unable to enjoy his fast start as Liam Lawson lost it on his own at Turn 2.

The early Safety Car ensured Piastri had to defend his lead at a Lap 3 restart and this allowed the soft-shod Mercedes of Russell to launch a dive bomb at Turn 6 hairpin.

The “big move” paid off for Russell as he hit the lead and built a gap before another stoppage was caused by Logan Sargent, who speared off into the gravel.

At the second restart Piastri found himself wheel to wheel again, this time with Carlos Sainz, but the McLaren held firm on the inside.

But by Lap 9 the race started to come back towards the Medium runners as the #81 set the fastest lap and Verstappen snatched third from Sainz.

Piastri only needed two laps to slash Russell’s 1s lead and the McLaren sailed into the lead down the pit straight.

It occurred moments before a three-wide tangle between Hulkenberg, Ocon and Perez resulted in the Red Bull firing into the Turn 2 gravel and a third Safety Car being required.

Suddenly Piastri again had Russell and now Verstappen hot on his heels, but the Australian immediately put the foot down to go 2s clear.

Although the #1 quickly picked off Russell for second, the about-to-be-crowned three-time world champion could not catch the McLaren rookie.

After enjoying the feeling of taking the chequered flag first for a maiden occasion in his growing F1 career, Piastri was simply relieved to win a Sprint that crammed more than a Grands Prix worth of racing inside 19 laps.

“I am very happy. It was a very stressful race,” Piastri said. 

“When I saw all the Soft guys come through at the start, I thought we were in a bit of trouble and then their tyres fell off pretty quickly, so yeah, that was good. 

“I think at the start it was a bit difficult to judge with the Safety Cars. “That wasn’t helping the Medium tyre at all, because it would cool-down way too much. 

“I think it was when Carlos was behind me, tried to overtake and dropped back very quickly. 

“It was like from one lap to the next, George lost a lot of pace, so at that point I knew I was in a good rhythm.

“Safety Cars were my friend today, definitely once Max got behind me but the pace was reasonable and I think in a race where you had to manage a lot the tyres, cars on other compounds.

 I think we did a really good job, so I’m very happy.

“It was stressful at times, but glad we could see it out.”

Despite being a winner, Piastri admitted it was strange knowing it was a Sprint rather than the Grand Prix he always dreamed of.

“I was obviously happy to win the Sprint,” he said. 

“I have to say, it’s a bit of a weird feeling because it’s not a race win.

“It does feel a little bit strange, but no, very, very happy. 

“I think, you know, it’s just been a really good day and I felt like, as a race, more than the result, I was really happy with how I managed things. 

“Obviously a difficult race with tyres as well and the fact that it gives me a number one trophy at the end is a bonus.”

The following night Piastri also notched up his the personal best result of second, only behind the then close to unbeatable Verstappen.

As we all know, Piastri would not have to wait too long for a maiden Grand Prix win, being victorious at Hungary and Azerbaijan this year.

With Lusail full of sweeping medium and fast corners, expect McLaren and Piastri to be fighting at the front of the field once again.

Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images

2024 Qatar Grand Prix Schedule:

Saturday, November 30:

FP1: 00:30 – 01:30

Sprint Qualifying: 04:30 – 05:14

Sunday, December 1:

Sprint Race: 01:00 – 02:00

Qualifying: 05:00 – 06:00

Monday, December 2:

Race: 03:00

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