IndyCar winner sends under-pressure F1 drivers warning

The Bahrain GP kicks off the eagerly-awaited 2023 F1 season — Photo: © LAT Images

F1 News & Gossip

IndyCar winner sends under-pressure F1 drivers warning

James Hinchcliffe picked some surprising names who need to impress

Chris Deeley

Friday 19 January 2024 00:57

Six-time IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe has named five F1 drivers who are under pressure to perform coming into the 2024 season.

In unique circumstances, the 2024 grid will line up with the same 20 drivers who ended the 2023 season, all in the same cars - a sign of job security for some, but a sign that others are on their last chance.

With a host of exciting drivers attempting to force their way into F1 seats via their performances in the junior formulas, some stars may find themselves unceremoniously dumped mid-season.

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Hinchcliffe mentioned some predictable names, including Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and American driver Logan Sargeant, but also dropped in the Australian pair of Daniel Ricciardo and 2023 rookie sensation Oscar Piastri.

Oscar Piastri's rookie season was one of the best in some time

Daniel Ricciardo made a surprise comeback mid-season to replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri

Sergio Perez spent all of 2023 under pressure, and looks set to repeat that in 2024

Hinchcliffe: Oscar Piastri under pressure

In a piece on F1's website, he wrote: "This might seem an odd one given the banner rookie campaign from Piastri – but the problem with early success is that expectation shifts accordingly.

"Norris will, of course, up his game after the pressure Piastri put on him in the final 10 races of 2023 – which in turn makes Piastri’s job that much harder. And while I don’t believe Piastri to be the type of driver to read his own press and get too comfortable, in any sport the threat of a sophomore slump is real.

"He needs to back up his impressive first year with a strong head-to-head performance against Norris to truly establish himself as one of the best on the grid. And hopefully that happens in a McLaren capable of fighting for wins."

Daniel Ricciardo F1 Sergio Perez Oscar Piastri Lance Stroll Logan Sargeant