Oscar Piastri has developed a lot as a driver this season and looked at home at the front of the field in just his second year in Formula 1.
The Australian suffered a tricky start in the opening few rounds, only scoring his first podium at the Monaco Grand Prix as McLaren improved.
Piastri scored his first victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix amid a team orders debacle at McLaren, which came across as untidy in the closing stages of the race.
He has been reliable across the season and the 2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg feels PIastri is more well-rounded than Lando Norris.
He has been an integral part of McLaren winning the Constructors’ Championship, particularly with a run of two wins in five races over the summer.
Piastri suffered a difficult Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after a collision with Max Verstappen on the opening lap.
Italian journalist Riccardo Ceccarelli explained the Australian’s personality doesn’t allow him to do one thing in wheel-to-wheel combat against the four-time world champion.
Oscar Piastri doesn’t have the ‘personality’ to let Max Verstappen pass him easily
Piastri was ice-cool this season, made very few errors for McLaren, and has proven decisive in wheel-to-wheel combat. This is an important skill, particularly against Verstappen.
He has been sharp when racing the Dutchman, as in Abu Dhabi, Piastri firmly closed the door at Turn 1, as the four-time world champion attempted a move up the inside. Verstappen apologised to Piastri driver after the race for sending him facing the wrong direction so early in the Grand Prix.
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Both cars spun, and Piastri dropped to the back of the field before battling back to 10th place at the chequered flag to score one point in the final round of the season.
Ceccarelli explained that the McLaren driver is a very strong character in the car, and it was a good sign to see him battle the Red Bull driver so aggressively.
The journalist told Motorsport Italia: “Piastri couldn’t let him pass, but he is certainly a driver with a big personality. ‘And it’s obvious that you are Verstappen, but I am Piastri, and you can’t pass through here’ so it was a curve where everyone showed their biceps.
“We have always said that when Verstappen sees the race lead, even if he doesn’t have a winning car, he doesn’t do calculations. This has always been the way; he also did this at the first corner. He saw the possibility of slipping into second and did it without calculations.
“Piastri obviously can’t stay wide and leave space because he would have made him sit down. Piastri doesn’t have this type of personality; two muscular drivers collide and compromise the race for both of them.”
The McLaren driver has a lot of good qualities, and Piastri will continue to keep Norris on his toes heading into the new season.
The Australian swept around the outside of his teammate Norris on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix at Della Roggia to take the lead.
Oscar Piastri needs to work on his race pace next season at McLaren
Piastri has put in some very strong drives this season such as in Azerbaijan to take his second Grand Prix victory while under pressure from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The Australian has also made fewer mistakes than Norris this year, such as in Qatar, where the British driver lost a place on the podium after speeding under yellow flags.
These are great qualities, but the race pace has suffered at times as Piastri lagged behind his teammate Norris over a race distance.
He suffered a difficult race at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this season and was comprehensively beaten by Norris in the Netherlands.
An improvement in Piastri’s race pace could see the 23-year-old challenge for more race victories next season on a consistent basis.
