Oscar Piastri Defies Engineer’s Orders to Secure Baku Victory
Piastri Disobeys Engineer to Make Winning Move at Baku: ‘It’s Now or Never’
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri defied his race engineer’s instructions during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, making a bold move to pass Charles Leclerc and secure victory. Piastri, who had been instructed by his race engineer, Tom Stallard, to manage his tyres carefully, ignored the advice, saying it was a “now or never” moment.
Piastri executed the crucial pass on lap 20, just after the only pit stop, and then fought fiercely with Leclerc for the remainder of the race. The two drivers endured a punishing stint on hard tyres, but Piastri’s decisive move ultimately secured his win.
Reflecting on his high-risk move, Piastri admitted it went against his engineer’s orders: “I saw half an opportunity after the pit stop and I knew I had to take it. My race engineer told me not to push too hard, but I completely ignored him and went for the inside.” Piastri added that the pass was risky, but necessary for the win.
The Australian driver also revealed the immense pressure he felt holding off Leclerc for over 30 laps. “Taking the lead is 40% of the job, but keeping it is 60%. It was incredibly stressful trying to keep Charles behind, especially with DRS. I made a few small mistakes, but luckily, none were big enough to cost me the race.”
Piastri’s daring victory is regarded as one of his best performances to date, showcasing his growing potential as a force in Formula 1.
