Oscar Piastri has already thought about his legacy in Formula 1 on behalf of McLaren. The 25-year-old Australian – now in his fourth season in the top class – realizes that he signed with the British team at a time when the team was working on an impressive resurgence. However, Piastri hopes that fans will later remember him as an important factor in McLaren’s success and as a ‘true racer’.
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In a new video on McLaren’s YouTube channel, a candid Piastri reflects on his impact on the team and the sport. He is considered one of the revelations of recent seasons; he has already won nine Grands Prix and led the championship for a long time last year. At the same time, Piastri also benefited from McLaren’s highly competitive cars. When he thinks about how he wants to be remembered later, the Australian hopes fans see him as an essential part of that success, and not just someone who simply benefited from a fast car.
“I like to think that I was not just a driver during a successful period for the team,” Piastri explained. “I hope to be remembered as someone who contributed to that success.” Apart from titles and trophies, he mainly wants to earn respect from the true racing fans. “Even if I never become champion, or if certain things don’t happen, I hope people still see me as someone who always raced as hard as possible,” he added. “Someone who did everything to become the best, but in the right way.”
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A true racer
Piastri emphasizes ‘fair’ racing. “That is very important to me,” he explained. “You can race hard and be extremely competitive without crossing certain boundaries.” That mentality fits within McLaren’s philosophy. Especially last year, when both drivers had a chance at the title, the team refused under pressure from Max Verstappen to name a clear favorite. Both Piastri and Norris had to be given a fair chance at the championship. “I want to be known as a true racer,” said the Australian about his legacy. “A hard racer, but also someone who was hugely dedicated to the team and tried to help McLaren move forward.”
Such statements might suggest that Piastri will soon hang up his racing helmet. However, he emphasized the opposite at the end. The relatively young driver still has a long career ahead of him. He remains determined to win a world title someday, although he does not see that as defining his ultimate reputation. “Of course, we all want to become world champion,” he concluded. “But in the end, you also want people to respect how you raced and how you worked with the team.”
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