Parc Ferme: The Piastri Problem

The story that Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso will be exiting stage WEC in 2026 is already being spun. This means he will need some drivers.

Raiding Red Bull Racing again seemed a likely option. Max Verstappen would be an obvious name to lead AMR’s charge, and his signing would effectively be putting part of the band back together.

However, the name that Parc Ferme landed on was Oscar Piastri. This was before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday. What transpired during the race highlighted why the young Aussie could trump the Dutch Formula 1 World Champion in Lawrence Stroll’s shopping list.

The audacious move into Turn 1 to pass Charles Leclerc was the “width of a fag paper” perfect at the exit. However, it so easily could have matched the Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez amateur-night exit in the closing stage of the race.

Piastri came close to the wall. Should he have touched it, McLaren’s new lead in the F1 constructors' championship would have been an increased deficit. It should also be noted that if his teammate had not been able to act as a mobile roadblock for Perez at a crucial moment, he would probably have been on a different step of the podium. However, the planets aligned on the day.

No, his standout performance was his ability to soak up Leclerc's unrelenting, lap-after-lap pressure. Like everything else that day, his judgement and race management were sublime. I only see two other drivers on the grid capable of that, and they have almost twenty years more experience in F1 than he does.

This ability to soak up pressure, and not make a mistake has been evident for some time. The twenty-three-year-old’s unflappability puts him head and shoulders above all the other young protagonists on the current F1 grid.

Newey’s uncompromising approach to car design usually means they are quick but challenging to drive. To get the best from them, they require F1 drivers who adapt to the needs of the car as opposed to trying to set it up to suit them. There’s not a long list for Stroll Senior to choose from here. Oscar is one of them… another box ticked Lawrence.

Piastri was already making life difficult for Zak Brown and McLaren, with his performances hazing their apparent no.1.

Lando Norris drove an excellent race, is a gifted driver, and, for the moment, probably faster than Piastri over one lap. Unfortunately, an F1 grand prix lasts longer than that, and after last weekend, his one-lap crown may stay put much longer. Piastri’s confidence, already buoyant, will soar to new heights.

McLaren now faces a problem going forward into 2025 and beyond. Piastri is probably their best bet to unseat Max for the F1 driver’s championship. We know it, Lando knows it, McLaren knows it, and `Piastri knows it.

Zak will need to make a choice here and soon. If Lawrence is not already whispering in Mark Webber’s ear, then Webber surely is whispering in his. Webber has already shown he’s not shy with the big numbers.

Watch out Zak; Stroll Senior and AMR have the sort of money to break “cast-iron” contracts!