It was a pretty momentous Saturday; in which Max Verstappen clinched his third consecutive world title and Oscar Piastri won his first F1 race. The first was a more predictable outcome than the second but nonetheless, there is something inevitable about the rookie Piastri’s progress.

He’d led a race before (the Spa Sprint), two weeks ago at Suzuka he put himself on the front row of a grand prix for the first time and took his first podium. This afternoon he earned his first F1 pole. Winning this race just ticked another box.

His progress is beginning to look almost pre-destined.

I recall talking to his manager Mark Webber about him when he was still in F3. Obviously, I wasn’t going to get anything other than positive vibes, but one thing Mark said which stood out was: “He’s a Prost, mate. He’s such a thinker and so calm. At first I thought I needed to inject a bit of urgency in him, but actually no, he’s got his own frequency. That’s just where he is.”

The way he combines that serene, unflappable persona with how he constructs his weekend in his rookie season is now very recognisable. Especially when it’s his first time at a venue. It would be easy to get overwhelmed by the raw speed of team-mate Lando Norris which is combined now with a lot of experience.

When you turn up at Suzuka or Qatar, no matter how familiar you might be with the venues in the simulator, confidence through the fast corners is no small thing – and Norris is dynamite through them. Piastri, just like at Suzuka, is utterly unfazed to be a couple of tenths off on the first day, he just works through his routine of learning. A bit of debriefing, a bit of thinking, a bit of looking at the overlays to his team-mate and a night’s sleep – and bang! He comes straight out of the blocks on Saturday bang on the pace.

mark hughes: piastri's rapid f1 evolution and a norris contrast

It was like that here too. Because this was a sprint format weekend, obviously he was still in that first-day learning mode when he had to qualify for the grand prix and he was around 0.15s off Norris (before Norris had his time deleted). But come Saturday’s Sprint qualifying, that gap had evaporated.

His evolution has been placed in a much brighter spotlight as the McLaren has become an ever-more potent weapon since its big Austria upgrade. He was suddenly keeping very heady company but only occasionally were there any giveaways of inexperience. The calm head smooths that away most of the time. That and the talent and the total inner belief in himself. It’s not an arrogance, but the clear assumption that he can do the job is very evident even in his humility.

There’s an expectation of success. He’s just in the process of building it up. Step by step. But those steps are big ones and they’re being taken quickly.

So coming into the Qatar weekend, around a track comprised almost solely of the sort of fast corners the McLaren devours and with only one slow one (the Turn 6 hairpin) at which it might struggle the car – already generally established now as the second-fastest in the field – was perhaps for the first time a realistic threat to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.

Max had mentioned in Hungary how quick it was through the fast corners, quicker than his own car he reckoned. “Yeah, but then you come to the slow corners,” interjected Norris. The Mercedes guys mentioned at Silverstone they could see that through certain corners, Stowe in particular, the McLaren was the fastest. It’s just that circuits invariably don’t consist only of fast corners. Qatar is the closest there is.

Hence it was dynamite and it was probably only Verstappen’s personal performance in Friday qualifying which put him ahead of the two McLarens (pre-track limits penalties). Each of Norris’ Friday Q3 laps were a little scruffy (even aside from the Turn 6 track limits infringements) yet still he was less than 0.3s off.

mark hughes: piastri's rapid f1 evolution and a norris contrast

Norris reckoned with a clean lap he might have taken pole and was clearly very irritated with himself – and not only for the deleted laps. Piastri, as recalled, was around 0.15s slower but at least only one of his laps was deleted. Norris’ second-fastest time counted for nothing, putting him P10 on the Sunday grid. Piastri’s fourth-fastest time at least dropped him only to P6.

So with the car as good as it was around here, and with Piastri now bang on Norris’ pace, everything was to play for on Saturday. Every little detail was going to matter and it would be so easy for just one small misjudgement to let everything slip away. It was a high-pressure situation tailor-made to stress test a rookie. And yet he didn’t put a foot wrong.

It was Norris who ran wide at the final corner of qualifying just when he was set for pole, Piastri who just went with the flow and took that honour instead – with both marginally faster than champion elect Verstappen for an all-McLaren front row.

When looking at their idealised Q3 laps (taking the best sectors from each of their two runs), Norris was potentially fastest with a 1m24.248s, from Piastri at 1m24.37s and Verstappen at 1m 24.444s. But of that trio, it was Piastri who’d best kept it together at the crucial moment.

That would come to have cascading effects in the race. It was because of the tiniest of errors in qualifying that Norris and Verstappen (on mediums, just like Piastri) had to contend with George Russell and the two Ferraris – all of them on the grippier but faster-wearing soft tyre – getting ahead of them at the start while Piastri led away.

That cool high-pressure pole lap was the solid foundation upon which his victory would be built. His two closest challengers had to find their way past slower cars before they could even think of chasing him.

mark hughes: piastri's rapid f1 evolution and a norris contrast

It wasn’t quite as straightforward as that, of course. Two safety car restarts left him vulnerable on his medium tyres to the soft-tyred cars immediately behind as they fired up the rubber so much faster. So on the first restart lap, Russell was able to commit way later on the brakes into the McLaren’s bogey corner, Turn 6, to deprive him of the lead.

Again calmness prevailed; the softs on the Merc were always going to surrender quickly and it was important that he didn’t overwork the mediums when they were still cool, as that tends to drastically shorten their life. Piastri knew he’d get a second bite soon enough, just as soon as he’d calmly but firmly fended off Sainz into Turn 1 and then pulled away. “It was important I kept the Ferrari behind,” he said, “as I knew it would hurt the tyres having to pass not just George but two cars. Like Max and Lando did.”

Piastri had made a straightforward retaliatory move on Russell for the lead just before the second safety car came out. He couldn’t have afforded to have waited too much longer – because Verstappen by then had found his way past the Ferraris, with Norris also carving through just behind.

That second safety car helped – it allowed Piastri to put distance on his pursuers while Verstappen and Norris were delayed in finding a way by Russell and his fading tyres. He used the advantage of that buffer clinically. “When I’d passed George I could see that he was really struggling in the high-speed stuff and so I knew he’d be holding Max up there and that’s where I just concentrated on really pushing hard, on really using my pace. That gave me the margin so when Max got past George I was already semi-comfortable.”

With tyres likely less stressed than Verstappen’s, Piastri maintained his 2s cushion to the end.

mark hughes: piastri's rapid f1 evolution and a norris contrast

It was indeed a drive of which Prost would’ve been proud. But more than that, coming just two weeks after that Suzuka race in which he said he still had a lot to learn about how to look after the tyres, it showcased the speed of his evolution.

It would be tempting to say that his level on Saturday had played its part in Norris’ more scrappy performance, but Lando doesn’t see it like that. Norris was afterwards visibly crestfallen about how it had all panned out and was still kicking himself that he should have been on pole twice but had not done a good enough job. “Congratulations to Oscar,” he said. “He’s got his first win before me.”

Given that Lando is five seasons into his F1 career, that statistic clearly stung. He was a whirl of emotions in between castigating himself: “Happy? No, not really,” he told Sky F1. “The frustrations of the last two days take over everything, you know? I concentrate on the negative things way more than the positives. That’s just me, it’s the way my head works.”

As the interviewer asks if it was Piastri’s success which was making it so much harder for Norris, his response was revealing – “No, because… No… Of course, it’s never the nicest feeling. But that’s not what hurts. It hurts that I messed up this morning and should have been on pole, should’ve been P1 or P2 on the grid for tomorrow. And on a weekend when it counts I’ve just made too many silly mistakes. It just annoys me. It’s such a high level. It’s just about trying to re-set and refocus.

mark hughes: piastri's rapid f1 evolution and a norris contrast

“Oscar’s done a better job than me this weekend and deserves to be where he is… but my mistakes yesterday were nothing to do with my team-mate. Yes, he’s pushing me but my mistakes aren’t about who is beating me or is not. Having a quick team-mate is a good thing; it pushes me more to my limit, which I hate but I enjoy it at the same time.”

Norris’s sincere and honest articulation of his feelings fresh from the car meant the ambiguity in his thoughts was nakedly on display. So much of this sport is in the head. Which is why Piastri looks so very well-equipped.

Keyword: Mark Hughes: Piastri's rapid F1 evolution and a Norris contrast

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Best cars for a 'Love Bug' remake

Tennessee’s Yard Art The Thorndyke Special The Hot Rod The Hippie Van Jim’s Lamborghini Growing up, it’s safe to say my absolute favorite movie was Disney’s “The Love Bug.” As a kid living in a world before Pixar’s “Cars,” it was pretty much the best car movie. I loved ...

View more: Best cars for a 'Love Bug' remake

Audi timing belt tensioner prompts Utah bomb squad visit

An aftermarket timing belt tensioner found in a Salt Lake City apartment prompted a visit from the bomb squad this week after it was mistaken for a potential explosive device. Police partially evacuated the apartment complex in which it was found “out of an abundance of caution” and called ...

View more: Audi timing belt tensioner prompts Utah bomb squad visit

2023 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 will get more expensive

GMC Sierra HD pickups are about to get more expensive again after recently becoming more expensive, according to GM Authority. In July, GMC and Buick raised the prices on certain vehicles in their lineups anywhere from $975 to $1,675 by making the previously optional OnStar a standard feature. Next ...

View more: 2023 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 will get more expensive

Our week with EVs: Recapping the diverse collection of electric cars we tested

Mercedes-Benz EQB First Drive Review: Next electric Benz is a little different 2022 Chevy Bolt EV Road Test Review: Time to play EV, gas or airplane 2023 Genesis GV60 Road Test Review: The third of Hyundai Group’s E-GMP EVs is the fastest, but softest It may be hard to ...

View more: Our week with EVs: Recapping the diverse collection of electric cars we tested

Europe car sales lowest since 1996 after 12-month decline

BERLIN – Europe registered the lowest number of new passenger cars in the month of June this year since 1996 at just over 1.06 million vehicles, with some carmakers seeing sales drop by nearly 50%, data from Europe’s automobile association showed on Friday. Volkswagen Group was the hardest-hit major ...

View more: Europe car sales lowest since 1996 after 12-month decline

More Than Just A Carmaker: Toyota Motor PH Launches Toyota Mobility Solutions

Automotive industry leader, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) inaugurated today Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, Inc. (TMSPH), a wholly owned subsidiary that will be a provider of mobility-related services. TMSPH ventures into the development and offering of a range of ‘new mobility solutions’ that will enhance Toyota as a brand ...

View more: More Than Just A Carmaker: Toyota Motor PH Launches Toyota Mobility Solutions

'F1 22' feels fast and familiar | Gaming Roundup

‘F1 22’ impressions ‘Construction Simulator’ is launching Sept. 20 Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. This week in racing game news: ‘F1 22’ impressions At its core, “F1 22,” the latest installment in the F1 ...

View more: 'F1 22' feels fast and familiar | Gaming Roundup

Watch a single-engine plane crash-land on 91 Freeway in California

A single-engine Piper Cherokee airplane was forced to crash land on the 91 Freeway in California after losing power about 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles. Yes, that means this was a very busy highway, practically bursting at the seams with traffic. No, amazingly nobody died, either in the ...

View more: Watch a single-engine plane crash-land on 91 Freeway in California

Ford files 'Mustang Dark Horse' trademark application

Make adventures more comfortable with high-quality Jeep grab handles

New Lucid Air variant to debut & Stealth Look to be on display during Monetary Car Week

Chevy offers incentives to prevent Corvette Z06 flipping

Average U.S. gas price falls below $4/gallon

German court: SUV driver must pay more than a car for running red light

Australian vehicle crash tests to include underwater performance

Toyota C-HR rumored to get revamp next year and an EV version

Geely's electric Zeekr 009 is an EV Alphard we never had; 700 km, 542 PS, top speed 190 km/h

A Newey, Brawn and Anderson row that shows F1 doesn’t change

Sorry, EV buyers, you won't get to pick your own pedestrian safety sounds

There won't be enough copper to meet climate goals, study indicates

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel