Formula One: Daniel Ricciardo’s honest Oscar Piastri verdict after McLaren drama

Daniel Ricciardo believes Oscar Piastri is having a good first season despite the young Australian’s setbacks at McLaren.

Piastri replaced Ricciardo at McLaren for the 2023 season, with high hopes that the Melbournian could pose a bigger challenge to teammate Lando Norris than Ricciardo had put up with.

However, the pair had to work with a poor car that struggled for speed at the start of the season and while Norris has managed to finish in the top 10 on three occasions, Piastri has not done as well as the Briton.

The 22-year-old is two places behind Norris in the drivers’ standings, but Ricciardo – who is now the third driver at Red Bull – is confident the only way is for his compatriot.

“It’s always difficult when you look at a team that isn’t performing where they want to be. Lando is the reference and it’s hard to say whether 12th is good or not,” Ricciardo told Total-Motorsport.com.

Piastri, 22, replaced Ricciardo at Formula 1 team but has struggled this season

“Even though Lando hit the wall in Saudi Arabia, Oscar came through and did a good qualifying, and Saudi Arabia is not an easy track. So I think that was a good sign for him. Lando has definitely had a head start since then .

“But it’s still early in Oscars’ career, you probably can’t expect too much from him just yet. So I think he got off to a flying start. He had a good first round in Miami. So I think he’s acting nice.’

McLaren team boss Zak Brown was questioned about Piastri earlier this year and insisted he made the right choice in terminating Ricciardo’s contract early in order to recruit the youngster.

“What we want… is two drivers pushing each other. And I think the first indications are that Oscar will be at the same pace as Lando, and they will push each other hard,” he said.

But Ricciardo believes the only way out is for the Australian and he has made a good start

“And that’s what you want from your two drivers, to know that it’s a little bit up to you, as a team, to give them a car to get to the front. When you look at the list of things you need to have a winning team, having two Grand Prix drivers is critical.

I think we have that. I think we’re all big Daniel fans… he lights up a room when he comes in and smiles and I don’t think he’s quite sure why it didn’t click. Sometimes drivers just need to charge their batteries.

“Fernando did it and Alain Prost did it over the years, so hopefully Daniel will get the chance to try and win his ninth Grand Prix, and many more, because I think we would all love to see him back on the grid at a regular.’