McLaren star set for 'telling year' despite impressive 2023 season
McLaren star set for 'telling year' despite impressive 2023 season
A McLaren F1 star needs time to prove he can compete at the highest level, according to former Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
Many hailed Oscar Piastri's debut season as the most notable since Lewis Hamilton's in 2007.
His team faced early challenges with an underdeveloped car, but following upgrades introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix, both Piastri and Norris transformed from backmarkers to consistent podium contenders.
Piastri finished the season in ninth place, amassing 97 points, securing two podium finishes, and claiming victory in the Sprint race in Qatar. Norris placed sixth, with 205 points and seven podiums.
But Szafnauer believes that Piastri will be judged more closely with his team-mate in seasons to come.
READ MORE: VOTE: Rivals clash as fans have final say on 2023
Piastri needs time
“He performed well against Lando,” Szafnauer told Peter Windsor. “I think to me, next year or the year after, will be more telling.
“You’ve got to give Oscar the year of getting used to the team, the circuits, with the car that’s underneath him and then we’ll see.
“I think Lando is exceptional and you can see that in the comparison. Although everyone says Oscar did a good job, because he did, I think Lando was still quite a way ahead. Not all races, but in total points and some of the head-to-head comparisons.
“But one of the reasons is because Oscar was a rookie and next year he’ll have that experience that a rookie doesn’t have and then we’ll see how much closer it is.”
READ MORE: McLaren star's 'Achilles heel' revealed by ex-F1 driver
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Vettel to make F1 RETURN in tribute to legend
- 1 minute ago
Newey delivers new challenge announcement after Red Bull exit CONFIRMED
- 46 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton blasted by former F1 giant as multi-world champion poised for FIA showdown
- 3 hours ago
Newey Red Bull exit details confirmed as Ferrari make dramatic unveiling - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Award-winning director reveals STUNNING tribute to F1 legend Senna
- Yesterday 22:57
Ferrari fans BEG for Newey after team reveal shock change
- Yesterday 21:57
Related news
McLaren star DROPPED following serious injury
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
Young F1 star set to make McLaren debut in injury replacement
F1 star reveals how Verstappen and Hamilton rivalry influenced key decision
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860