Oscar Piastri’s mother, Nicole, vividly recalled the moment her son informed her that he had secured a driving position at McLaren for the 2023 Formula 1 season. Speaking on a podcast in August 2024, Nicole described how her initial excitement turned into shock when she realized Oscar would be taking over the seat vacated by Daniel Ricciardo.
Before this announcement, expectations had favored Oscar joining Alpine, the French team with which he had an established relationship. Alpine even publicly announced his addition, only for Piastri to deny the move via social media, creating confusion around his next destination.
Ultimately, Piastri joined Lando Norris at McLaren in 2023, filling the role left by fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo. Nicole shared the story of Oscar’s video call where he cautiously broke the news to her.
“I just wanted to tell you that I’ve just signed my first F1 contract,”
Nicole initially responded with joy and excitement, imagining Oscar would be racing in Alpine’s colors.
“I was like, ‘oh my god, oh my god!’ ‘So what color are we wearing, are we wearing like navy and pink?’, because I’m thinking Alpine.”
Her assumption was soon challenged.
“Like what, what color are you wearing?’, and he’s like, ‘orange’. And I was like ‘oh my god, McLaren. Oh my god that’s amazing, that’s amazing!'”
However, the thrill was tempered by the realization of what this meant for Daniel Ricciardo.
“Then it dawned on me what that meant, and I was like ‘oh no, oh no wait’, and he’s nodding,” she continued.
“And I said ‘Oh my god, Daniel, I love Daniel’, and he’s just deadpan, he was like ‘yep, everybody loves Daniel.'”
Daniel Ricciardo’s Struggles and Eventual Replacement at McLaren
Daniel Ricciardo had joined McLaren in 2021, arriving from Renault after a challenging two-year stint with the French team. Despite high hopes, Ricciardo struggled to adapt and deliver strong performances at McLaren, which led to growing pressure on him to prove his worth.
As his difficulties persisted, the decision was made for Ricciardo to step aside, allowing Piastri to take over the seat in 2023. Following this transition, Ricciardo returned to Red Bull in a reserve role, shifting away from a regular driving position in F1.
Oscar Piastri’s Feelings on Replacing a Beloved Driver
Nicole Piastri also shared Oscar’s own sentiments about the weight of replacing Daniel Ricciardo during the podcast. Oscar expressed the challenge of stepping into a role previously held by one of the sport’s most popular and charismatic drivers.
“Of all the F1 drivers to be replacing, ever, Daniel is the worst one to be replacing.”
Despite this, Oscar Piastri has performed impressively since joining McLaren. At 24 years old, he has already secured seven race victories and is leading the 2025 drivers’ championship halfway through the season, surpassing Ricciardo’s achievements with the team.
The Broader Impact of This F1 Driver Change
The replacement of Daniel Ricciardo by Oscar Piastri marked a significant moment in the Formula 1 landscape, especially as it involved two prominent Australian drivers. Oscar’s rise has continued to inject fresh energy into McLaren, while Ricciardo’s departure spotlighted the challenges even experienced drivers face when adjusting to new teams.
This shift highlights the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the constant pressure on drivers to perform. With Piastri now leading the championship standings, his role at McLaren appears to be a defining chapter in his career and a pivotal moment for the team’s future prospects.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Oscar Piastri’s family rich?
A. Oscar’s father, Chris Piastri, helped start HP Tuners, a major company in the car software industry worth around $35 billion. This company provided crucial financial support, around $6.5 million, to help Oscar advance to Formula 1 racing.
