Oscar Piastri capped off a special week that included a contract extension and first front-row start with his maiden podium at the Japanese Grand Prix.
On Wednesday McLaren announced a new deal for Piastri that keeps him with the team until the end of the 2026 season, and then on Saturday he secured his first top-two qualifying result for a grand prix, having only previously started a Sprint from the front row. A solid run to third gave the Australian rookie his first podium, although he feels he didn’t deliver his best race performance.
“It’s definitely been a pretty special week with the announcement of the extension and then qualifying on the front row yesterday, first podium today,” Piastri said. “It’s been a very fun week. still a lot to learn and try and improve on, but I’ll enjoy the moment for now.
“To get the first one, I don’t think it really matters where, It’s always going to be special. I think for myself, it probably wasn’t my strongest Sunday, so from that side of things, there are still a few things I want to work on.
“To get the first podium on pace as well is a very exciting moment.”
Piastri says a race like Suzuka – where only one car one-stopped due to high levels of degradation – will also prove to be good experience for him moving forwards.
“I just wasn’t quick enough at certain points of the race. These high deg races are probably the biggest thing I need to try and work on at the moment. I think it’s still quite fresh for me, obviously in all the junior racing before, there’s no races like this, so the only way you can learn is by doing the races.