The 2025 Australian Grand Prix didn’t end the way Oscar Piastri fans or his team hoped, but inside McLaren, the message is clear with Andrea Stella reacting positively to the driver’s performance in Melbourne.
The young Australian star looked poised for a sensational result at his home race, running close behind teammate Lando Norris and challenging for the win. But as rain rolled over Albert Park, Piastri’s hopes were washed away.
A costly off-track excursion on Lap 44, as he slid wide at Turn 11, ended any chance of a podium and left him fighting to salvage points.
Despite the setback, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was full of praise for his driver, hailing Piastri’s maturity and skill during a chaotic race that saw some of the sport’s biggest names falter.
“Definitely mixed feelings because until the moment where both drivers hit this sudden rain in the last sector, Oscar and Lando were driving brilliantly, both,” said Stella as he reacted to the performance of Piastri performance.
“Oscar just paid a bigger price than Lando with going off-track and then not being able to come out of the grass.”
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Yet, Stella made it clear he believes Piastri was on course for much more.
“I think Oscar today was deserving to be in contention for the victory until the last moment, and he drove exceptionally well,” Stella revealed.
“And when I use the verb ‘driving,’ that’s not only driving the car around the track, but also assessing the conditions and making key decisions.”
Piastri’s Breakthrough Is Coming Soon
Although Piastri had to settle for ninth place, his overall drive didn’t go unnoticed. Stella pointed to Piastri’s cool-headed approach, even when conditions became treacherous.
“It was very lucid, very calm, and it’s, you know, like starting his year three in Formula 1, but he looks like one of the most expert drivers that I’ve worked with. So extremely impressed by Oscar today, just a little bit unlucky,” Stella continued.
The McLaren boss also highlighted the dynamic between Piastri and Norris, noting that their collaboration is key to the team’s resurgence.
“I already explained yesterday the importance of how much the drivers supported each other through the weekend by learning from each other,” Stella said.
“And I think some of the lap times we saw and the gaps we saw in qualifying are the derivation of this interaction between our two drivers.”
With McLaren’s car now a regular contender at the front and both drivers pushing each other to new heights, Stella is confident it’s only a matter of time before Piastri secures his first career win.
Stella added: “If the car keeps performing at this level of competitiveness, big satisfactions for Oscar are not far in time.”
Though Piastri didn’t get to fulfil his dream of winning in front of a home crowd this year, his resilience, skill, and growing confidence suggest it won’t be long before he stands on the top step of the podium — whether in Shanghai next race or soon after.
