The numbers that prove Piastri’s path to glory

Oscar Piastri has put himself in esteemed company at one of Formula 1’s most famous teams after his latest success in Spain.

Piastri calmly controlled a tense Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunya, where strategy and Safety Cars all caused headaches.

However, while Max Verstappen lost his cool, the Australian was never seriously challenged and managed the gaps perfectly to lead Lando Norris home.

It was a timely statement for Piastri as he extended his championship lead back to double figures after Norris’ Monaco breakthrough.

Whilst Piastri followed in the footsteps of his manager Mark Webber, who took a similarly dominant win from pole at Catalunya in 2010, there are further stats that prove the Brighton boy could be on a path to ultimate glory.

The Spanish Grand Prix victory was already Piastri’s fifth win from just nine races in 2025, establishing him as the dominant driver on the grid.

It means he has already matched the record for the most wins in a single season by an Australian.

Both Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones also took five victories in the 1960 and 1980 seasons, respectively.

Notably in both of those seasons, Brabham and Jones carried on to the F1 drivers’ title.

If that is not enough of an omen, no McLaren driver has scored as many wins in a single season since Lewis Hamilton in 2008, when the Brit won his first of seven championships.

In addition to a seventh career win, Spain was also an eighth consecutive podium for Piastri.

McLaren has fielded some of the best drivers ever, and the only ones to match him are Ayrton Senna and Hamilton.

Whilst Hamilton did it in his famous rookie 2007 campaign, Senna went on such a run in 1988 when he arrived at McLaren and scored his first of three drivers’ titles.

Unlike back then, there is still a long way in this championship fight, but these are extremely pleasing signs of Piastri’s progression.

Personally, the most pleasing thing for the young Aussie will be his progression of tyre management.

At the corresponding race one year ago, Piastri finished a distant 31s behind teammate Norris with the Brit second, pushing Max Verstappen for victory, while the Aussie was seventh.

A year later, with a championship on the line, Piastri was a cut above in a race where many struggled to maintain rubber in hot conditions.

There were times Norris slightly closed the gap and got the SkyF1 commentators excited, but the Aussie instantly responded.

Even during the six-lap sprint to the finish, Norris never challenged Piastri as he recorded a 2.4s win.

“It was a really strong race and a strong weekend,” Piastri said. 

“I think we did a really good job of managing everything in that race: sticking to our plan on strategy, not getting distracted by the three-stop.

“I felt pretty much in control and could increase my pace when I needed to.

“We just did a good job all around.”

Next up is Canada in a fortnight on June 13-15.

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