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Oscar Piastri’s First Grand Prix Win Marred By Tension

Oscar Piastri wins his first Grand Prix in Formula 1 after an ambiguous race with Lando Norris and questionable team strategies.

Oscar Piastri is a Formula 1 Grand Prix winner for the first time in his career. The McLaren driver celebrated the success at the Hungarian Grand Prix, in Budapest. Right behind him was Lando Norris, who secured a 1-2 finish for McLaren.

However, the race was quite controversial for the Papaya team. Once again, the strategic choices were debatable and even Piastri’s expected win seemed to be uncertain.

Fighting against windmills

The first doubts about McLaren’s strategies started to arise when they decided to pit Norris before Piastri in the final stint of the race. Typically, it’s the driver at the front to pit first, especially if he’s the leader of the race. Piastri had earned the lead of the lead of the race on lap 1 and regained it even after the first round of pit stops.

However, the team decided to protect Lando Norris from Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. But the thing is that the gap between him and Hamilton was wide enough. The seven-time World Champion wasn’t a real threat for the Papayas at that moment. It was a fight against a nonexistent risk.

This resulted in Norris becoming the new race leader, and Oscar Piastri in P2 after his call to the box. The team created their own dilemma following that questionable decision. They now had to manage the situation on the track between two teammates.

Piastri left behind his companion while the team requested – but it seemed more a suggestion- to let the Australian pass. In the meantime, Norris increased the gap with Oscar Piastri, unwilling to let his teammate pass without a fight.

All’s well that ends well

After various team radios, at three laps away from the chequered flag, the Brit eventually gave up the lead in a theatrical manner. Oscar Piastri could finish his race in P1, earning his first win after 115 GP disputed.

Congratulations came from all the McLaren members, including Lando Norris, who commented later: “The team asked me to do it and I did it. That’s all”. But the driver admitted to understanding what this win meant for Piastri.

When it comes to the star of this race, Oscar Piastri appeared calm and collected on the podium. A trait he has possessed since the start of his F1 career, very composed in every situation.

“ I’ve always had faith in the team and in Lando. It was the right thing” – Oscar Piastri to Sky Sport.

And, after all of this, the Australian had the chance to taste victory on the highest step of the podium.

Embed from Getty Images

What McLaren has to say

Naturally, the Team Principal Andrea Stella had to clarify what happened at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He had to answer also to the critics against the tone used to communicate with Norris. According to many, as said before, it appeared more like a gentle suggestion than a team order.

“The sequence of pit stops was such that we wanted to avoid at all costs, even in case of a problem during the stops, to end up behind Ferrari and Mercedes.

“This is our style of communication […]. I think that Lando has received the message and we like a champion like that. That he is eager to win.

“We will enjoy this day with McLaren’s you two positions in qualifying and in the race, in addition to Oscar’s first win. But there will definitely be something to be discussed.” – Andrea Stella to Sky Sport.

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