Oscar Piastri is determined to keep expectations in check for his debut season in Formula 1, warning that it could take some time for him to get up to speed after more than a year of not racing.
The 21-year-old replaced Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren after being reserve driver for Alpine last season and will make his Formula 1 debut next month when the season gets underway in Bahrain.
But he admitted there will be a “bit of rustiness” as he last raced 18 months ago and spent 2022 on the sidelines as a reserve driver.
“Everyone comes into the team this year knowing that I haven’t raced in over a year now,” Piastri told Fox Sports.
“I myself am also realistic about that, there will be some rust. I’m also entering F1, it’s not a walk in the park.
Oscar Piastri insists he is under no pressure ahead of his debut season in Formula 1
The young Australian will make his Formula 1 bow in Bahrain next month
“So yeah, I think we’re all realistic about how long it takes to learn.”
Piastri, Formula 2 and Formula 3 world champion in 2020 and 2021, has long been regarded as one of Formula 1’s rising stars.
McLaren’s decision to part ways with Ricciardo a year earlier than expected to pair Piastri with Lando Norris will only add to the strain on the 21-year-old’s shoulders.
Ricciardo, who is no longer on the grid following his return to Red Bull as a reserve driver, finished 16 of 22 races behind Norris last season, taking just 37 points to his team-mate’s 122.
However, Piastri insisted his compatriot’s struggles in 2022 would not affect him.
“There is still a lot to learn, but I am in a very different situation than Daniel,” said Piastri.
“I think there is definitely time for me to learn.
“Last year as a reserve driver I learned a lot about the ins and outs of being an F1 driver, but now I’m really looking forward to doing the part we’re all here for, which is driving.” .’
But former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Piastri’s stunning record in Formula 2 and Formula 3 means the young Australian will come under pressure in his rookie season.
As pre-season testing kicked off in Bahrain on Thursday, Palmer suggested Piastri could have the same expectations as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton ahead of their Formula 1 debut.
“I would put (him) in Verstappen’s category – coming in as a 17-year-old, that was busy too. Because he was promoted so quickly, racing for a year and then in Formula 1,” Palmer said.
“As a warning to the pressure, yes, there is tremendous pressure, but if we think that the two others who have been under this pressure in Formula 1 lately are Hamilton and Verstappen, that’s good company.
There’s a reason why Oscar Piastri is under pressure: he hasn’t raced 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.”
Speak on the Beyond the Grid podcast last month, Ricciardo urged Piastri to include as much information as he can, but warned him to keep expectations in check in his rookie season.
Daniel Ricciardo returned to Red Bull as reserve driver after McLaren parted ways with him after two difficult seasons to make way for Oscar Piastri
Ex-Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer suggested 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 of him since moving to McLaren.
“We obviously 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,” said Piastri.
“I don’t think there’s much more than that and I don’t think there needs to be much more.
“Obviously he’s back with Red Bull and working for them now, so I’m sure I’ll see him in the paddock soon.”
