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Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Oscar Piastri stands among GOATs Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton with 8 consecutive podiums for McLaren
Image credit: Oscar Piastri/Instagram Oscar Piastri is currently far ahead of the competition in the 2025 Formula 1 Driver Standings with five wins in nine races. The 24-year-old McLaren driver has now joined the greats like Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton in holding eight consecutive podiums at McLaren. Except for the season opener in his home country, Australia, Piastri has won a podium in all the remaining eight Grands Prix so far. Oscar Piastri wins 8 consecutive podiums for McLaren Oscar Piastri has joined the likes of the late F1 star Ayrton Senna and the current Ferrari F1 driver Lewis Hamilton by bagging eight consecutive podiums as a McLaren driver. The official X handle of Formula 1 highlighted the fact recently. Senna attained the feat in 1988 when he won the Drivers' Championship at McLaren. Senna and his McLaren teammate Alain Prost had won fifteen of the sixteen races that year, leaving out only the Italian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton recorded nine consecutive podium finishes in his debut season in 2007 with McLaren, but he didn't win the Drivers' Championship that year. It was Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen who won the championship and, interestingly, he was the last one to do so for Ferrari. Currently, Hamilton is driving for Ferrari and is yet to win his debut race as part of the team. When Piastri's achievements were highlighted on X, the Formula 1 fans only had praise for the young McLaren driver, who is only in his third season. A fan reacted to the tweet about Piastri, 'Future World Champion for sure.' Another wrote, 'Among the GOATs.' One more said, 'Piastri's on fire, consistency turning into greatness.' A comment also read: 'Living legend OSCAR.' A Formula 1 fan also highlighted the actual facts behind the record. The tweet read: 'How many wins among those 8 podiums? Senna - 6, Piastri - 5, Hamilton - 2.' Also Read: Spanish Grand Prix 2025 results: Oscar Piastri wins his fifth race, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc join him on the podium Piastri is currently leading the F1 Driver Standings with 186 points. In second spot is Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris with 176 points. In third spot is Red Bull driver Max Verstappen with 137 points. He is just one penalty away from a race ban.
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
F1 star overshadowed by Max Verstappen did something not seen in six years
The controversy created by Max Verstappen when he slammed into George Russell late in the Spanish Grand Prix overshadowed an extraordinary achievement by Nico Hulkenberg Max Verstappen was named Driver of the Day by Formula 1 fans at the Spanish Grand Prix – though the outcome of that poll may have been very different if only the votes cast after the Dutchman slammed into George Russell, seemingly on purpose, counted. And, in any case, the final classification makes it clear that one driver's extraordinary performance and result was unfairly overlooked. Because in fifth place – nosebleed territory for a Sauber team which has struggled to make an impression in recent years – was Nico Hulkenberg. He finished sixth on the road but, because Verstappen dropped down to 10th because of a penalty for his moment of madness, was promoted to fifth place. The last time the German finished a race that high, the year was 2019 and he was driving for Renault at the Italian Grand Prix. It was also a landmark moment for the team, who haven't had anyone finish that high in a race since the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, when Valtteri Bottas managed it. The 10 points Hulkenberg scored on Sunday lifted Sauber off the foot of the constructors' standings to eighth place, level with Aston Martin. And Hulkenberg managed it despite an unspectacular qualifying result which meant he started 15th on the grid. But he got off to a stunning start by rising five positions on the opening lap, which put him in points contention. He had been one of a few drivers who saved an extra set of soft compound tyres for the race, compromising his qualifying efforts as a result. But the gamble paid off as a late safety car gave him the opportunity to put on a new set of softs for the six-lap sprint to the chequered flag. READ MORE: Max Verstappen is extraordinary and infuriating in equal measure – we've seen this before Hulkenberg said: "It was one of those Sundays where everything came together really well. Right from the beginning, we were in the mix – a strong start, a clean first lap, and we were immediately able to fight for points. "Ironically, not having the best Saturday and saving a set of softs gave us a strategic edge with the tyre allocation. The safety car mixed things up a bit, and having those fresh compounds turned out to be a golden ticket. There was a significant delta between used and new tyres today, so that really paid off." Rookie team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto did not score points but looked strong, qualifying 12th in an upgraded Sauber C45. The team introduced a raft of upgrades in Barcelona which, based on the evidence they collected during the race, look to have given them a more competitive race car. Hulkenberg added: "The car felt good all weekend, and the updates clearly gave us a step forward in performance. We had strong pace throughout the race. Credits to the whole team, both at the factory and trackside, for the hard work on the upgrades."
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Formula One's Imola faces chop and Max Verstappen will feel the loss
Red Bull's Max Verstappen passes the chequered flag to win the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy, on May 18. PHOTO: REUTERS – Max Verstappen has won four times in a row at Imola, but a fifth next season looks unlikely with Formula One set to drop the Italian circuit. There is no contract for 2026 and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has said it will be hard to justify Italy having two races given the demand from elsewhere. Four-time world champion Verstappen said he understood, with Monza having a contract to 2031 for the Italian Grand Prix, but also felt the loss. 'Losing these kind of tracks is a shame. I get it from F1's side of things, of course – the new tracks that we are going to,' said the Red Bull driver after winning the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on May 18. 'You have to see it from a sportive side and a financial side, right? If you want to grow the business and make it more popular, I get it. Personally, when I just speak about the enjoyment of driving, it's these kind of tracks that made me fall in love with racing in general.' F1 is due to gain Madrid as a new venue in 2026, and something will have to give to keep the calendar at 24 rounds. Las Vegas and Miami have been added in recent years and there is talk of Africa, Thailand and a second race in China. Germany also has no race. Imola – old style, with the paddock hemmed in by the Santerno river and the narrow track – seems destined to be dropped after making a return during the pandemic years, unless a deal can be done on a rotational basis with other venues. It is a circuit very much to Verstappen's liking, on Ferrari's home turf and with a heavy emotional and historical pull after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994. Old favourites come and go, sometimes because they are simply outdated as cars get bigger and faster and more hospitality and better access are required. Verstappen's home race on the dunes at Zandvoort will fall off the calendar after 2026 and Barcelona, where he took his first F1 win in 2016, also faces an uncertain future. Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps, a drivers' favourite, will be absent in 2028 and 2030 as part of its new deal. 'When you started watching Formula One, there were always these few tracks where you just... I don't know, you look at the speeds, you look at how difficult they are to master,' added Verstappen. 'The history of the sport at certain tracks, you know, it's all very special and gives you a bit more emotion to things. So, yeah, it's definitely a shame for me personally, but what can I do about it?' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Imola faces the chop and Verstappen says he will feel the loss
Max Verstappen has won four times in a row at Imola but a fifth next year looks unlikely with Formula One set to drop the Italian circuit. There is no contract for 2026 and Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, who was born and grew up in the town near Bologna, has said it will be hard to justify Italy having two races given the demand from elsewhere. Four-time world champion Verstappen said he understood, with Monza having a contract to 2031 for the Italian Grand Prix, but also felt the loss. 'Losing these kind of tracks is a shame. I get it from F1's side of things, of course — the new tracks that we are going to,' said the Red Bull driver after winning Sunday's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. 'You have to see it from a sportive side and a financial side, right? If you want to grow the business and make it more popular, I get it. 'Personally, when I just speak about the enjoyment of driving, it's these kind of tracks that made me fall in love with racing in general,' he added. 'In go-karting even, because you have the same thing in karting where some tracks are more special than others.' Formula One is due to gain Madrid as a new venue next year and something will have to give to keep the calendar at 24 rounds. Las Vegas and Miami have been added in recent years and there is talk of Africa, Thailand and a second race in China. Germany also has no race, despite Audi joining Mercedes on the grid next year. Imola — old-style, with the paddock hemmed in by the river Santerno and the narrow track — seems destined to be dropped after making a return during the pandemic years, unless a deal can be done on a rotational basis with other venues. It is a circuit very much to Verstappen's liking, on Ferrari's home turf and with a heavy emotional and historical pull after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994. Old favourites come and go, sometimes because they are simply outdated as cars get bigger and faster and more hospitality and better access is required. The Dutch driver's home race on the dunes at Zandvoort — a throwback to yesteryear if ever there was one — will fall off the calendar after next year and Barcelona, where Verstappen took his first F1 win in 2016, also faces an uncertain future. Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps, a driver favourite, will be absent in 2028 and 2030 as part of its new deal. 'When you started watching Formula One, there were always these few tracks where you just ... I don't know, you look at the speeds, you look at how difficult they are to master,' said Verstappen. 'The history of the sport at certain tracks. You know, it's all very special and gives you a bit more emotion to things. So, yeah, it's definitely a shame for me personally, but what can I do about it?'
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Imola faces the chop and Verstappen will feel the loss
Formula One F1 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy - May 18, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads at the start of the race REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki Formula One F1 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy - May 18, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen passes the chequered flag to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Pool via REUTERS/Luca Bruno IMOLA, Italy - Max Verstappen has won four times in a row at Imola but a fifth next year looks unlikely with Formula One set to drop the Italian circuit. There is no contract for 2026 and Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali, who was born and grew up in the town near Bologna, has said it will be hard to justify Italy having two races given the demand from elsewhere. Four-times world champion Verstappen said he understood, with Monza having a contract to 2031 for the Italian Grand Prix, but also felt the loss. "Losing these kind of tracks is a shame. I get it from F1's side of things, of course -- the new tracks that we are going to," said the Red Bull driver after winning Sunday's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. "You have to see it from a sportive side and a financial side, right? If you want to grow the business and make it more popular, I get it. "Personally, when I just speak about the enjoyment of driving, it's these kind of tracks that made me fall in love with racing in general," he added. "In go-karting even, because you have the same thing in karting where some tracks are more special than others." Formula One is due to gain Madrid as a new venue next year, and something will have to give to keep the calendar at 24 rounds. Las Vegas and Miami have been added in recent years and there is talk of Africa, Thailand and a second race in China. Germany also has no race, despite Audi joining Mercedes on the grid next year. Imola -- old-style, with the paddock hemmed in by the river Santerno and the narrow track -- seems destined to be dropped after making a return during the pandemic years, unless a deal can be done on a rotational basis with other venues. It is a circuit very much to Verstappen's liking, on Ferrari's home turf and with a heavy emotional and historical pull after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994. Old favourites come and go, sometimes because they are simply outdated as cars get bigger and faster and more hospitality and better access is required. The Dutch driver's home race on the dunes at Zandvoort -- a throwback to yesteryear if ever there was one -- will fall off the calendar after next year and Barcelona, where Verstappen took his first F1 win in 2016, also faces an uncertain future. Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps, a driver favourite, will be absent in 2028 and 2030 as part of its new deal. "When you started watching Formula One, there were always these few tracks where you just... I don't know, you look at the speeds, you look at how difficult they are to master," said Verstappen. "The history of the sport at certain tracks. You know, it's all very special and gives you a bit more emotion to things. So, yeah, it's definitely a shame for me personally, but what can I do about it?" REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
