F1 News: Oscar Piastri Sets "Clear Targets" For 2024 After Impressive Rookie Season
Oscar Piastri's debut in the 2023 Formula 1 season with McLaren culminated in remarkable achievements, including podiums in Japan and Qatar. His performance sets a high bar for his 2024 aspirations.
Key Takeaways:
- Debut Season Success: Piastri's first season in Formula 1 was marked by podium finishes at the Japanese and Qatar Grands Prix, and a Sprint race win.
- McLaren's Mid-Season Enhancement: Significant car upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix were pivotal to McLaren's improved performance, with Piastri benefiting greatly from these updates later in the season.
- 2024 Aspirations: Piastri's interview with F1.com revealed his ambitious targets for 2024.
McLaren Press Image
The 2023 Formula 1 season saw the rise of a new talent, Oscar Piastri, who quickly made a name for himself with McLaren. His debut year was not just about acclimatising to F1 racing; it was about making an impact, evidenced by his podium finishes and a Sprint race triumph.
A pivotal moment for McLaren and Piastri was the introduction of major car updates at the Austrian Grand Prix, which significantly improved the team's performance. Piastri, although initially waiting for the full upgrade package, later utilised it to enhance his performances, supporting his teammate, Lando Norris.
In an interview reflecting on his past season and looking ahead, Piastri told F1.com:
"In terms of results, it depends a lot on how we are as a team. We've ended 2023 in quite a good place with a competitive car, hopefully we can be the same, if not better - that's the goal.
"For myself, I've got a year of experience in F1, I've been to all of the circuits apart from China, so there won't be any completely new ones for me."
The McLaren driver is focused on starting the 2024 season with a stronger footing, building on his first year's learnings:
"Hopefully everything will just be a bit more comfortable, but more natural from the start, just keep doing the same thing.
"If that means we're finishing on the podium or even winning, then of course that's what I'm gonna try and aim for. If it means you're finishing six or seventh, then that's what I'm gonna try to aim for. So just try and keep building keep evolving.
"I've got some clear targets, I guess that I want to try and improve from my first season. But yeah, just keep chipping away at those and wherever we end up is where we ended up."