Season snapshot · 2023
Source: Jolpica F1 API- WDC finish
- P9
- Wins
- 0
- Podiums
- 2
- Points
- 97
- DNFs
- 3
- Constructor
- McLaren Racing
Race-by-race
| Race | Grid | Finish | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | P18 | Electrical | 0 |
| Saudi Arabian | P8 | P15 | 0 |
| Australian | P16 | P8 | 4 |
| Azerbaijan | P10 | P11 | 0 |
| Miami | P19 | P19 | 0 |
| Monaco | P11 | P10 | 1 |
| Spanish | P9 | P13 | 0 |
| Canadian | P8 | P11 | 0 |
| Austrian | P13 | P16 | 0 |
| British | P3 | P4 | 12 |
| Hungarian | P4 | P5 | 10 |
| Belgian | P5 | Collision damage | 0 |
| Dutch | P8 | P9 | 2 |
| Italian | P7 | P12 | 0 |
| Singapore | P17 | P7 | 6 |
| Japanese | P2 | P3 | 15 |
| Qatar | P6 | P2 | 18 |
| United States | P10 | Collision damage | 0 |
| Mexican | P7 | P8 | 4 |
| São Paulo | P10 | P14 | 0 |
| Las Vegas | P18 | P10 | 2 |
| Abu Dhabi | P3 | P6 | 8 |
Oscar Piastri's debut 2023 Formula 1 season with McLaren was a compelling narrative of adaptation and accelerating performance, mirroring his team's mid-year resurgence under the demanding ground-effect regulations.
Going in
Piastri entered Formula 1 with considerable junior category pedigree, but his rookie year began in challenging circumstances. McLaren's MCL60, particularly in the initial races, struggled for pace. His first Grand Prix in Bahrain ended prematurely with an electrical issue, a DNF after just 13 laps. Early races like Saudi Arabia (P15) and Azerbaijan (P11) highlighted the car's limitations, with points proving elusive. A glimmer of potential emerged at his home race, the Australian Grand Prix, where he secured his first points with an 8th place finish, demonstrating his ability to capitalize on opportunities even in a difficult package.
How it played out
The trajectory of Piastri's season, and McLaren's, pivoted dramatically with the introduction of a significant upgrade package around the British Grand Prix. Prior to Silverstone, Piastri had accumulated a mere 5 points. The upgraded MCL60 transformed the team's fortunes, and Piastri quickly adapted. He secured a strong 4th place at Silverstone, followed by a 5th in Hungary. The Belgian Grand Prix saw him claim a Sprint race podium, though the main race ended in a DNF due to collision damage on the opening lap. This period of rapid improvement showcased his capacity to extract performance from a more competitive car, a testament to his underlying talent. The overall landscape of Formula 1, with its evolving technical regulations, demands such rapid adaptation from new drivers, as detailed on Wikipedia: Formula One.
Defining moments
Piastri's standout performances arrived in the latter half of the season. The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka was a watershed moment, where he secured his first Grand Prix podium with a 3rd place finish. This was quickly followed by an even stronger showing at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he not only won the Sprint race but also finished 2nd in the main Grand Prix. These results firmly established him as a driver capable of challenging at the front. Even amidst a more challenging stretch post-Qatar, which included a DNF in Austin due to collision damage, he closed the season with a solid 6th place in Abu Dhabi, consolidating McLaren's strong finish to the year.