Oscar Piastri continues to gain more and more respect within Formula 1, not only for his speed but for his cool and calculated demeanor on the track. Now, the Australian has received praise from Jenson Button, who stated that he sees in the McLaren driver characteristics very similar to those he had at the beginning of his own career.
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During his participation in the official F1 podcast, Beyond The Grid, the 2009 champion revealed that the Australian is the current driver he identifies with the most. According to Button, the similarity goes beyond driving and also includes how the Australian handles pressure and the intense paddock environment.
When asked which driver he most remembered on the current grid, he replied, “in my youth, I would probably say Oscar.” For the Brit, the McLaren driver conveys a rare calmness in modern Formula 1, something that has led many in the paddock to associate his personality with that of Kimi Raikkonen, known as the “Iceman.”
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Jenson also recalled the intense pressure Piastri experienced in the internal battle with Lando Norris during last season. According to him, the Australian showed great consistency throughout the championship but ended up feeling the mental strain in the final stretch of the title fight. “There were moments last year when I felt I wasn’t able to bring out the best in myself. Sometimes you get tense and that was a weakness of mine,” Button explained, drawing a parallel with difficulties he also faced in his career.
Even so, the former driver believes Piastri has something special. “It’s nice to see his dedication and focus. He just wants to race,” he said. Button also compared the Australian’s behavior to that of Max Verstappen off the track, highlighting a more reserved profile totally focused on performance.
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