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Oscar Piastri Hailed for Snubbing $10,000,000 Threat to Reach ‘Terrifying’ Schumacher + Alonso Level

Published 10/06/2023, 8:00 AM EDT

The F1 grid witnessed young Oscar Piastri power his way through controversies to script a remarkable debut. Piastri’s choice to race for McLaren and ditch Alpine despite a looming $10 million lawsuit threat has proved to be an inspired one.

At the Japanese Grand Prix, the Australian rookie didn’t just capture his first podium but also gave a tantalizing glimpse into McLaren’s evolving narrative. As Max Verstappen clinched the win, behind him the McLarens ruled with Lando Norris taking second and Piastri claiming a fantastic third. A jubilant Piastri remarked, “It’s becoming somewhat more normal for us.” With such composure and confidence, one gets the sense that we’re witnessing the early chapters of an F1 great in the making.

In the Qatar paddock, while taking a breather from the usual circuit bustle, Rosanna Tennant caught up with Will Buxton and Chris Medland for some earnest chit-chat on the F1: Chequered Flag podcast. Their main muse? You guessed it: Oscar Piastri.

Buxton and Medland didn’t hold back their admiration in a back-and-forth discussion. Buxton said, “All that pressure on Oscar with the legal fallout around his contract. And honestly, coming into the season, I thought there is no way that Oscar can live up to the hype. Absolutely no way. And yet, he’s done even better than I think anyone expected of him. And to have Andrea Stella, you know, pull comparisons with Michael Schumacher, who Andrea worked with back in the Ferrari days. You know, there is no higher praise in this game than being compared to Michael.”

“As Will mentioned, they said about what he’s got that’s akin to Schumacher, and that’s the way he actually builds the team around him… like kind of makes himself feel part of a family with them. But then he also, Stella mentioned Fernando Alonso’s name, in the way that he analyzes his own weaknesses and works on them,” Medland added.

“A hybrid of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, that’s terrifying, isn’t it?

“I take that.”

“That’s terrifying.”

But Piastri is not all about foot-to-the-pedal speed. His mature, self-analytical approach, akin to Alonso, and the way he fosters team spirit, reminiscent of Schumacher, have left many in the pit lane in awe. In a sport that thrives on rivalries, talents, and legends, Oscar Piastri has made quite the entrance. And if this season is anything to go by, his story has only just begun.

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Speaking of making a mark in F1…

Is Red Bull eyeing Oscar Piastri?

If you’re a fan of the F1 grapevine, you’ve surely heard the buzz: Red Bull Racing might be in the market for fresh talent to fill the hot seat beside Max Verstappen. Sergio Perez, with the fastest car in 2023 under him, has been having, let’s say, a “moment”. Started the year hot, hotter than your coffee left in a car during the summer, with back-to-back wins in Jeddah and Baku. But since then? It’s like someone poured cold water on his fiery form. He’s been outshined so consistently by Verstappen that some are questioning if Perez will even see out his contract to 2024.

Now, while there’s chatter about Lando Norris breaking BFF heart charms with Max to perhaps suit up in Red Bull colors, we can’t help but remember another epic F1 duo – remember the spicy telenovela between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes? Best buddies turning into fierce rivals on the track! Now that’s a real ‘Friendship Buster’ series.

But, if the rumors aren’t enough, the always-entertaining Eddie Jordan, former Jordan F1 team owner turned occasional pundit, has thrown another name into the ring, and it’s making us giddy.

“I think Piastri is the real deal,” Jordan gushed to TalkSport, “If I was in Red Bull, and I was thinking of replacing Checo, he’d be the one I’d have in my mind.” Jordan is clearly smitten, recalling Piastri’s performance at Suzuka, “He’d never been to this track before…and race against Max!” He ended with a juicy prediction, hinting at Piastri’s connection with his old partner, Mark Webber, “Do not be surprised if there’s a seat available at Red Bull…don’t be surprised if Piastri is named in front of the public eye in the future.”

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So, could Red Bull be setting their sights on McLaren’s young shining star? Grab your popcorn, folks!

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Written by:

Pulkit is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports. With a strong academic background in engineering, he possesses an in-depth understanding of the intricate mechanics and technology driving Formula 1. This expertise allows him to offer insightful analysis, exploring the technical aspects of the sport and shedding light on the innovative advancements that shape the world of F1.

Edited by:

Vishav