McLaren team principal praises rookie Oscar Piastri's positive impact

Andrea Stella has commended McLaren rookie driver Oscar Piastri for his role in enhancing the performance of both himself and Lando Norris.

During the recent British Grand Prix, Norris secured a second-place finish, while Piastri achieved an impressive fourth place.

This result marked a significant breakthrough for McLaren, showcasing the effectiveness of their upgraded package after a challenging first half of the season.

It also provided a major boost for Piastri, who achieved his best result in Formula 1 by a considerable margin.

McLaren exhibited great confidence in the highly regarded Australian driver by going to extensive lengths to secure his services, enticing him away from Alpine last summer.

According to Stella, the 2021 Formula 2 champion has not only justified that trust but has also had a positive influence on Norris.

"Oscar's performance is just outstanding if you think he's a rookie," Stella said. "And right away, even in practice, he was immediately quick.

"This allows also some synergies between the drivers because both can see where you can improve from each other. And this elevates the performance of both drivers.

"So, not only we are impressed, but there's a net benefit in having two competitive drivers because both can benefit."

Piastri's race craft, which was considered an area for potential improvement after a year as the reserve driver for Alpine, was clearly evident at Silverstone.

He effectively defended his position against George Russell from Mercedes and narrowly missed out on a potential maiden podium finish due to an untimely safety car intervention.