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Former Williams and Ferrari boss gives young Australian F1 driver Oscar Piastri an ominous warning as he replaces compatriot Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren
Australian young gun Oscar Piastri has been warned that he needs to get going when he makes his McLaren debut in March.
The 21-year-old is a direct swap for Daniel Ricciardo, and according to former Williams and Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor, the rising star should dominate on the grid after he turned down an offer from Alpine.
‘Here’s a boy [Piastri] who said no to Alpine and goes with McLaren,’ Windsor said.
‘It’s a bit similar to [three-time world champion] ayrton [Senna] in a way because Ayrton wanted to start with a small team and grow with that team and then after a year maybe go to a Lotus or Williams or wherever while Piastri is not doing that.
“If he had come in as a rookie driver at Alpine, there is a little less attention on him and a little less pressure than there is now at McLaren.
Windsor also doubts that Piastri is a better driver than McLaren’s main man, Lando Norris.
‘On the assumption that he [Piastri] is the next Ayrton Senna, which is what a lot of people tell us, so it will be interesting to see how he does,” he said. Wide World of Sports.
“Personally, I think Lando is exceptionally good and I think he won’t have a problem with Piastri.
“But given everything that’s happened in the last nine months with Piastri, you have to say this guy has incredible confidence in his own ability to come in and be an Ayrton Senna because he turned down Alpine.
Piastri was forced to sit out last year, having won three championships in three years at the junior level.
Australian young gun Oscar Piastri has been warned that he needs to get going when he makes his McLaren debut in March.
Former Williams and Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor believes Piastri will need to drive like three-time world champion Ayrton Senna (pictured) to live up to expectations.
Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo has urged Piastri to absorb as much information as he can as the young gun prepares for his F1 debut.
His rise to the F1 circuit has many fans salivating given his obvious promise.
Ricciardo has urged Piastri to absorb as much information as he can as the young Australian prepares for his debut.
“I think just get out there and drive,” Ricciardo said on the Beyond the Grid podcast when asked if he had any advice for his younger colleague.
I know that sounds like a very lazy answer, but it’s just go and drive.
“Learn, be a sponge, but drive and take it race by race.”
The first round of the 2023 F1 season is in Bahrain from March 3-5.