Race Analysis - Piastri's risk brings impressive win

Podium, Azerbaijan GP 2024
© McLaren

By Mark Karp

Oscar Piastri's first Formula 1 victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a masterclass in strategy and composure. Under pressure from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Sergio Perez, Piastri made a bold decision that changed the course of the race and secured his place as a rising star in the sport.

The race began with Leclerc dominating the early stages. Starting from pole position, the Ferrari driver quickly built up a lead of nearly six seconds on the medium compound tyres. His car looked strong, and Leclerc seemed poised to control the race. Piastri, meanwhile, was holding on to second place, working to stay within striking distance of Leclerc while keeping an eye on Perez, who was threatening from behind.

Leclerc's pace appeared unbeatable, but Piastri knew that the race was far from over. The upcoming pit stops would prove decisive, and the McLaren team had a strategy in place that would play a crucial role in the outcome.

The first significant turning point came when Perez pitted. Piastri's McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, who was yet to stop, found himself ahead of the Red Bull. Norris managed to hold up Perez for a couple of crucial laps, giving Piastri the time he needed to push hard. Piastri made the most of this window, delivering two quick laps before coming into the pits himself.

Piastri's strong in-lap allowed him to rejoin the track still ahead of Perez, maintaining track position over the Red Bull. But the biggest surprise came when Leclerc pitted one lap later. The Ferrari driver struggled to bring his hard tyres up to temperature, and in just two laps, his six-second lead had evaporated. Piastri was suddenly back on Leclerc's tail, closer than he had been since the start of the race.

With the gap gone, Piastri faced a critical decision: should he attack immediately or wait for Leclerc's tyres to degrade further? His race engineer, Tom Stollard, advised caution. "Be smart. We damaged the front tyres from attacking Leclerc before," Stollard warned, referring to the first stint of the race where Piastri's aggressive driving had worn out his tyres too quickly.

Stollard's advice was to stay close, use DRS (Drag Reduction System) to reduce the gap on the straights, and avoid pushing too hard in the corners. The idea was to save the tyres for a later attack. In Baku, DRS provides a significant advantage—about 0.35 seconds per lap—which can help a driver keep pace without burning through tyre life.

However, Piastri had a different plan. Reflecting on his earlier missed opportunity in the first stint, he explained, "On lap 2 or 3 I was just within DRS but didn't fully capitalize on that opportunity. And I got to the end of the straight thinking, 'If I had done a couple of things a bit differently here, I maybe had a chance.'"

Piastri knew that waiting too long could cost him the race. He reasoned that if he could take the lead early, he could use the clean air to manage his tyres better and maintain control of the race. "When I had a similar opportunity after the pit stop, I had to take it. It's what won me the race," he said.

On lap 20, Piastri saw his chance. Leclerc was still struggling to get heat into his hard tyres, and Piastri knew this was the moment to strike. He launched his McLaren down the inside of Leclerc into Turn 1, making a bold and decisive move that caught the Ferrari driver off guard. Piastri took the lead, but he knew the real challenge was yet to come.

"At that point, I felt like trying to stay back and wait for Charles to degrade his tyres was never going to happen," Piastri explained. "I thought that was just going to secure us P2, and I wasn't really very interested in finishing second. I knew that if I didn't get past at the start of the stint, I was never going to get past."

With Piastri now in the lead, the pressure shifted. His tyres had taken a hit from the aggressive overtake, and he knew that maintaining the lead would be a difficult task. "I knew that getting into the lead was going to be, let's say, just 40% of the job and that hanging on to it was going to be 60%," Piastri said.

Leclerc remained close behind, using DRS to keep up with Piastri on the straights. The Ferrari driver was still a threat, and Piastri had no margin for error. "Just trying to keep Charles behind was incredibly stressful," Piastri admitted.

For several laps, Leclerc stayed within DRS range, applying pressure and waiting for Piastri to make a mistake. But as the race wore on, it became clear that Leclerc was struggling with his tyres. Four laps from the end, Leclerc's front tyres "hit the cliff," losing grip dramatically. Without the grip to challenge, Leclerc fell out of DRS range, giving Piastri the breathing room he needed to secure the win.

Crossing the line to take his second Formula 1 victory, Piastri had completed what was arguably the race of his career. His decision to attack early, despite the risks, had paid off in spectacular fashion. Reflecting on the race, Piastri emphasized the importance of that bold move. "The gamble to go for the lead early was worth it. It wasn't easy, but it was the only way to win," he said.

Oscar Piastri's triumph in Baku was a defining moment. His ability to think on his feet, balance risk and reward, and manage his tyres under pressure showed a level of maturity beyond his years. In a race that could have easily slipped away, Piastri's bold decision-making and flawless execution ensured that his win was one to remember.

For Piastri, this victory was not just about seizing the lead—it was about proving he could handle the pressures and complexities of Formula 1 at the highest level. As he stood on the podium in Baku, it was clear that this was only the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable career in Formula 1.