Oscar Piastri‘s 2024 season was a rollercoaster of brilliant highs and puzzling lows. The young Australian grabbed two impressive wins, but many think he could’ve achieved even more.
The McLaren driver had one of the fastest cars on the grid for much of the season. But something wasn’t quite clicking consistently.
"One weekend he was like Senna, the next like Karthikeyan," says Daniel Juncadella, Aston Martin’s simulator driver. "Suddenly he didn’t give any performance at all. That happened. Suddenly he lost it."
It’s worth remembering this was only Piastri’s second year in F1. His victories in Budapest and Baku showed just how good he can be when everything comes together.
But qualifying sessions often proved to be his Achilles’ heel.
Juncadella had a unique behind-the-scenes perspective from his time working in McLaren’s simulator. "Sometimes I would sit in the simulator afterwards and listen to the briefings. I noticed he had lost his confidence, lost it a bit."
The Spanish driver, who’s made his name in DTM, IMSA, and WEC racing, isn’t writing Piastri off though.
"Piastri is a driver with a great career in the junior classes and I expect great things from him," Juncadella says.
These ups and downs aren’t unusual for young drivers, even talented ones. The real test will be how Piastri builds on these experiences heading into next season.
