Oscar’s brilliant win in Azerbaijan
Oscar Piastri, the young Australian Formula 1 driver, made headlines with a stunning victory at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. His win, marked by a key overtake of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, was his second victory of the season. This race also helped McLaren take the lead in the Constructors' Championship, a significant achievement for the team.
The Baku City Circuit, where the race took place, is known for its challenging layout. It combines long straights with tight, narrow corners, making it one of the trickiest tracks on the F1 calendar. Drivers need to be both brave and precise, as even the smallest mistake can result in a crash. As Piastri put it before the race, “This track really rewards commitment,” and he showed that commitment during qualifying, securing second place on the grid.
At the start of the race, Leclerc, who started from pole position, quickly established a lead. Piastri, in second, struggled initially to keep up, especially as his tires overheated early on. By lap 14, Leclerc had built a 5.9-second gap. Other drivers, like Sergio Perez, had already pitted for hard tires, threatening Piastri’s position. However, McLaren made a smart strategic move by bringing Piastri in for his tire change at just the right moment.
Piastri rejoined the race behind Leclerc but ahead of Perez, setting the stage for a crucial battle. By lap 18, Piastri had closed the gap to Leclerc to just seven-tenths of a second, putting him in a strong position to challenge for the lead.
The key moment of the race came on lap 20. Piastri, just 25 meters behind Leclerc, seized the opportunity and made a clean, decisive overtake at Turn 1, taking the lead of the race. This was a bold move, and Piastri executed it with the calm and precision of a much more experienced driver.
Holding onto the lead, however, wasn’t easy. Piastri later admitted that it was one of the most stressful races of his life, as he had to fend off Leclerc for 30 laps. “I knew that getting into the lead was 40% of the job, but holding onto it was going to be 60%,” he said after the race. Despite the pressure, Piastri kept his cool and made only minor mistakes, none of which cost him the victory.
This win was not only a personal triumph for Piastri but also a huge boost for McLaren. With Lando Norris finishing fourth after a tough qualifying session, the team gained the most points of any in the race and moved into first place in the Constructors' Championship, overtaking Red Bull.
Looking ahead, Formula 1 heads to Singapore for the next race. McLaren’s strong performance in Azerbaijan has set them up as serious contenders for both the Drivers’ and Constructors' Championships. With Piastri’s growing confidence and skill, the final races of the season are shaping up to be an exciting battle.
