Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless weekend in China, securing his most complete Formula 1 win yet with calm precision and perfect control.
The young Australian dominated the Chinese Grand Prix from start to finish, converting his pole position into a controlled and confident victory—his third in F1. With no real pressure from Lando Norris or George Russell, it was a smooth Sunday drive at the front of the pack.
So, does this win feel different?
“Yeah, it’s incredibly satisfying,” Piastri admitted. “Any win feels great, but this one stands out—not just the race, but the entire weekend. My other two wins in Budapest and Baku were very different. This one was the most complete performance.”
From the first corner, Piastri made his intentions clear.
“I was really happy to come out of Turn 1 in the lead. I’d have been pretty annoyed if I didn’t! That was crucial, especially since we weren’t sure if it would be a one-stop or two-stop race. After seeing how important it was to control the pace during the Sprint, I knew how vital that lead was.”
While it might not have carried the same emotional weight as his earlier wins, Piastri said it was far more rewarding.
“I felt calm and confident. I knew what I needed to do and stayed focused. The gap behind was never huge, so I had to manage it carefully—push when I had to, save when I needed. Honestly, everything just clicked.”
A Strategic Masterstroke
Surprisingly, most front-runners, including Piastri, completed the race with just one pit stop. His second stint on hard tyres lasted a grueling 42 laps.
“When did we realize a one-stopper was possible? Probably 10 or 15 laps into the hard tyres. They held up way better than we expected. Honestly, I thought it would be a two-stop race early on, but the tyres were really solid.”
It was a far cry from his struggles in Shanghai last year—a track that gave him a hard time in 2024.
“Saying I struggled last year is putting it mildly,” he joked. “This was a full 180. I had a lot to work on over the past 12 months. The resurfacing helped, but the track still demands a lot. So to have my most complete weekend here is super satisfying.”
Piastri praised McLaren’s progress, crediting both his personal development and the team’s work behind the scenes.
“The engineers gave us a car way better than what we had here a year ago. We’ve all improved, and it shows. It’s a great sign of progress—and while we’ve got more challenges ahead, this gives me a lot of confidence.”
Teamwork That Delivers
Team boss Andrea Stella highlighted the collaborative dynamic between Piastri and teammate Lando Norris, who’ve been openly sharing data and tips—especially on tyre management.
“Yeah, there’s definitely a good exchange between us,” Piastri confirmed. “We’ve got different strengths and weaknesses. This weekend, things naturally suited me. On others, I look at what Lando’s doing and try to learn. Having a strong teammate pushes you forward—we’re always learning from each other.”
Looking Ahead
McLaren capped off the weekend with a dominant 1-2 finish—its 50th in F1 history. Could number 51 come as soon as the next race in Suzuka?
“We had a fast car here, no doubt,” Piastri said. “But it wasn’t as smooth as Melbourne. Getting this result despite the challenge is a great sign. We’ve got work to do—there’ll be ups and downs—but we’re in a good place. I’m excited to keep building.”
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Piastri’s Precision Triumph Marks Big Step for McLaren
Piastri’s Precision Triumph Marks Big Step for McLaren
