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Oscar Piastri is determined to keep expectations in check ahead of his debut Formula One season, warning that it may take him some time to catch up after not racing for more than a year.
The 21-year-old replaced Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren after spending last season as Alpine’s reserve driver and will make his Formula 1 debut next month when the season kicks off in Bahrain.
But he admitted there will be a “bit of rust” as he last raced 18 months ago and spent 2022 on the sidelines as a reserve driver.
“Everyone is coming into the team this year with the knowledge that I haven’t raced in over a year,” Piastri told Fox Sports.
‘Myself, I’m also realistic about that: there will be a bit of rust. I’m also getting into F1, it’s not a walk in the park.
Oscar Piastri insists he is not under pressure ahead of his debut season in Formula 1
The young Australian will make his Formula 1 debut in Bahrain next month
“So yeah, I think we’re all realistic about how long it will take to learn.”
Formula 2 and Formula 3 world champion in 2020 and 2021, Piastri has long been considered one of Formula 1’s rising stars.
McLaren’s decision to part ways with Ricciardo a year ahead of schedule to pair Piastri with Lando Norris will only add to the pressure on the 21-year-old’s shoulders.
Ricciardo, who is no longer on the grid after returning to Red Bull as a reserve driver, finished behind Norris in 16 of the 22 races last season, racking up just 37 points to his teammate’s 122.
However, Piastri insisted that his compatriot’s struggles in 2022 would not affect him.
‘There is much to learn [but] I am in a very different situation than Daniel’s,” Piastri said.
‘I think there is definitely time for me to learn.
“Last year, as a reserve driver, I learned a lot about the off-track happenings of an F1 driver, but now I’m really looking forward to doing the part we’re all here for, which is driving the car. .’
But former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Piastri’s impressive record in Formula 2 and Formula 3 means the young Australian will be under pressure in his rookie season.
Speaking as pre-season testing began in Bahrain on Thursday, Palmer suggested that Piastri could face the same level of expectations that Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton encountered before their Formula 1 debut.
‘I would put [him] in the Verstappen category: entering at 17 was also pressure. Because he got promoted so quickly, one year in car racing and then Formula 1,” Palmer said.
“As a warning about the pressure, yes, there is a lot of pressure, but if you think that the other two in recent times who have been under this level of pressure going into Formula 1 are Hamilton and Verstappen, that’s good company.” .
There’s a reason for Oscar Piastri: he hasn’t competed in anything and hasn’t won the championship since 2018, when he finished eighth in the Formula Renault Eurocar.
“Then he won it in 2019, he won F3 in 2020, he won Formula 2 in 2021, he won everything.
speaking in the Beyond the net podcast Last month, Ricciardo urged Piastri to absorb as much information as possible, but warned him to keep expectations in check in his rookie season.
Daniel Ricciardo returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver after McLaren parted ways with him after two difficult seasons to make room for Oscar Piastri.
Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer has suggested that Piastri will be under as much pressure as Max Verstappen (left) and Lewis Hamilton (right) when they made their F1 debut.
And the young Australian revealed that the eight-time Grand Prix winner has been very supportive since his move to McLaren.
“Obviously we got in touch after everything that happened last year and he has been very supportive of me both personally and in the media, for which I am very grateful,” Piastri said.
“I think there really isn’t much more than that and I don’t think there has to be much more than that.
“Obviously he’s back at Red Bull now working for them so I’m sure I’ll see him in the paddock soon.