Oscar Piastri realizes his “childhood dream” after his first victory
A new winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and it was Oscar Piastri who came out on top on Sunday. It was a very special race, and one he's not likely to forget, as the McLaren driver scored his very first Formula 1 victory, seven races after his team-mate Lando Norris won. Everything seems to be going well for the British team this season.
A double win for McLaren this Sunday at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Starting in pole position for Lando Norris and in second place on the starting grid for Oscar Piastri, McLaren treated itself to a dream weekend. But it is especially for the 23-year-old young driver that this race will remain memorable. Oscar Piastri secured his very first Formula 1 victory by crossing the finish line first, despite a rather surprising strategy from his team. The team instructed Lando Norris to pit two laps earlier than the race leader with only a few laps to go. As a result, McLaren allowed the British driver to pull off an unlikely undercut on his teammate. However, the winner of the Miami Grand Prix agreed to gift the victory to Oscar Piastri by letting him pass two laps before the end. A well-deserved victory and above all, a childhood dream come true.
« It’s very very special. It’s really the dream I dreamed of when I was a child, to be the winner of a Grand Prix, to be on the highest step of the podium. It was a bit complicated in the end. I put myself in a good position at the start of the race. Congratulations to the team for this incredible car. It’s really great to drive for McLaren and I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to be here in Formula 1 and win a race, it’s an incredible feeling », confided Oscar Piastri at the end of the race before giving an update on the car he is driving this season.
A single-seater that casts a shadow over Red Bull.
« The car is the fastest at the moment and in all conditions. It is perfectly controlled and it’s incredible to be able to master a race like this and achieve the double. I don’t know when was the last time we achieved a double win but it must have been a long time ago, I am very very happy for the team. I wasn’t as fast as I wanted to be in the final relay but I still managed to put myself in a good position to win this race. There are still things I need to work on but I want to savor this victory first. I learn at every Grand Prix and I hope there will be many more. We have proven this year that we can be fast on any circuit and in any conditions. It hasn’t been my best circuit recently but I think we will be strong. The car is really able to compete at the front, ” concluded the 23-year-old driver, winner of this Hungarian Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver scored 25 points and is now in fifth position in the overall driver standings with 149 points, just five points behind Carlos Sainz who has 154 points. Next appointment in Belgium, at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit on July 28th.
