{"id":502308,"date":"2026-02-25T03:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T03:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/502308\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T03:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T03:35:16","slug":"f1-news-mika-hakkinen-hails-oscar-piastris-beautiful-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/502308\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 news: Mika Hakkinen hails Oscar Piastri\u2019s \u2018beautiful\u2019 driving"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Hakkinen
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMika Hakkinen has heaped praise on Oscar Piastri ahead of the 2026 season. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n

Known for his calm and precise approach, Piastri has impressed with his ability to manage the complex tyres and powerful cars of the modern era, already claiming nine wins in his short Formula 1 career.<\/p>\n

Speaking about the 24-year-old\u2019s 2025 season in an interview with Speedcafe, Hakkinen highlighted not only these skills, but also Piastri\u2019s car control and natural talent as reasons for his early success in the spor<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, Oscar is a great personality. A great guy. Really down to earth,\u201d Hakkinen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat talent. Great car control. He can really control the car really well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the cars and the tyres are one of the biggest challenges these days in Formula 1, and I think Oscar was able to really take care of the tyres and to be really smooth with the tyres.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all the time a little bit struggling here to put my words in a correct way \u2013 because Oscar, his driving was extremely beautiful.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo question about it. Very consistent indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hakkinen acknowledged the mistakes Piastri had made late in the year as the championship battle with teammate Lando Norris and Max Verstappen intensified, but stressed they did not reflect the driver\u2019s underlying ability.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething happened last year, and Oscar can only answer this what happened,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy these mistakes started coming and he was not able to maximise his full performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hakkinen, who serves as a brand ambassador for McLaren, also drew attention to the pressures of competing alongside an established teammate.<\/p>\n

He noted that while Norris eventually came out on top to claim his maiden drivers\u2019 title, Piastri\u2019s talent and ability remained evident.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot have two world champions in the team. There can be only one world champion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Lando was winning a world championship. And Oscar, constantly my mind said what a great driver. What a fantastic driver.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Finn also reflected on his own early career, adding the challenges of navigating the complexities and demands of a full F1 season could have played a part in Piastri\u2019s late-season dip, and said it would improve as he gained more experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started my career, halfway through the season I would say the last three grand prix of the season, I started making mistakes,\u201d Hakkinen explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was tired. Leaving the hotel. The traveling all the time. The pressure. The media. It was so bloody tough.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil over the years I developed. I got experience. And I was able to manage to do a full season without mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course there\u2019s one or two mistakes during a year. But I was able to do a full season with the full power.<\/p>\n

\u201cOscar is still a young man, and starting his career in Formula 1. So he will develop. He will get stronger.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s what I that\u2019s what I see what\u2019s going to happen with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to do a great job in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n


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