Oscar Piastri overcame a difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season and achieved his first podium of the year in Japan, securing second place. For team principal Andrea Stella, the way the young driver responded to adversity impressed the entire team:
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“I have to say that the team is very impressed with the strength this driver is showing,” Stella told the press. “And I’ll say more: this is reflected in the team, because when you see a driver respond in this way to a second race in which he was not in a position to participate, it becomes extremely motivating for the entire team.”
Piastri was unable to start the first two rounds after crashing on the way to the grid in Australia and then facing a mechanical problem before the race in China. Stella highlighted that these difficulties gave the driver a unique opportunity to test his resilience. “The start of the season gave Oscar the opportunity to test his maturity, his strength and his ability to absorb adversity,” said the team principal.
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In addition to technical performance, Stella highlighted Piastri’s personal growth. “It’s not just the development of a driver who gets faster and faster, but also of a person who becomes more mature and stronger from a mental point of view,” he added.
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