Oscar Piastri Secures First Formula 1 Victory at Hungaroring
July 21, 2024, will be a day that Oscar Piastri will never forget. The McLaren driver secured his first Formula 1 victory on Sunday, after previously winning a sprint race. The Australian was crowned champion on the same circuit where Fernando Alonso won his first Formula 1 race 21 years ago.
Piastri started the race from second position after a strong qualifying session, only beaten by his teammate Lando Norris. A good start allowed him to take the lead, and he led the race until a late stop made his teammate take the lead. However, after team orders, Piastri was allowed to pass his teammate and take the win.
The Relationship with Alonso
Fernando Alonso, who achieved his first Formula 1 victory in Hungary in 2003, praised Piastri’s win. "I’m happy for Piastri, a great guy and a great driver," said Alonso. Both Piastri and Alonso shared a team at Alpine, where the Australian was the reserve driver. The other team member at the time was Esteban Ocon, who also achieved his first and only Formula 1 victory at the Hungaroring circuit.
The First Victory is Always Special
The Hungaroring is a circuit that Alonso, Ocon, and Piastri will always have a special affection for. It was not an easy race, but it was where they managed to climb onto the top step of the podium for the first time. These were not the only drivers to achieve their first F1 victory in Hungary, as Damon Hill did in 1993, Jenson Button in 2006, and Heikki Kovalaine in 2008. The first two later won a World Championship after that first victory, while the Finn’s was his first and last.
In 2003, Fernando not only achieved his first personal victory but also that of an entire country, as no Spaniard had ever achieved this before. In Piastri’s case, he is the fifth Australian to achieve this feat. Before him, his compatriots Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Mark Webber, and Daniel Ricciardo have all won a Grand Prix race. The McLaren driver has made it onto this select list and hopes it will be the first of many, in a season where the Woking team is the fastest on the grid.