‘Think like Piastri’: Aussie star the new blueprint for F1

Oscar Piastri’s composed approach behind the wheel has made him the driver young talents are now told to emulate, according to former F1 driver Derek Daly. The Australian’s ability to stay emotionally detached under pressure draws comparisons to Alain Prost, and his rapid rise at McLaren has surprised even his own team.

Why it matters:

Piastri’s emergence as a top-tier driver—finishing third in the 2025 championship with multiple wins—is redefining the blueprint for driver development. His calm, consistent style offers a counterpoint to aggressive, high-risk approaches, influencing how the next generation is coached.

The details:

• Daly, who raced for Williams and Tyrrell, recalls first seeing Prost test at Paul Ricard and instantly recognizing his talent. He sees the same in Piastri.
• “Piastri is largely mistake free… the most impressive thing is his ability to become emotionally numb,” Daly said. He noted the Australian’s measured race-day preparation and calm radio communication.
• The former driver now hears young drivers being told: “Think like Piastri. Think about being numb. Think about being relaxed.”
• Daly believes McLaren didn’t fully anticipate how complete Piastri would be: “He definitely surprised McLaren in just how good and how complete he was at such a young age.”
• Piastri led the 2025 championship before a mid-season points drought cost him the title. He currently sits sixth after four rounds in 2026.

What’s next:

Daly sees Piastri as a “slow burner and a long game player,” expecting him to let the first half of 2026 play out before making a serious title push. With his teammate Lando Norris now a world champion, the internal McLaren dynamic remains unresolved—but Piastri’s calm consistency suggests he’s far from finished.