The 2024 Miami Grand Prix will always be remembered for being the race where Lando Norris finally ended his long wait for a Formula 1 race victory.
There were scenes of jubilation in the crowds, the pit lane and in the number four car’s cockpit as Lando Norris took the chequered flag more than seven seconds after three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Posting on his Instagram story after the race, F1 race winner Mark Webber was quick to praise another driver on the grid.
There were plenty of drivers who put in some fantastic performances up and down the grid.
Esteban Ocon had a great battle with Fernando Alonso and while he lost out to his old teammate, he still secured Alpine’s first point of the season.
There was another brilliant drive from Yuki Tsunoda who was deservedly praised by Damon Hill before the race and backed that up with a 7-place finish.
However, despite not securing a top-ten finish in the Miami Grand Prix, Webber wanted to highlight how well Oscar Piastri drove.
The young Australian was only in his 28 Grand Prix but a mixture of bad luck and an unfortunate battle with Carlos Sainz ruined his chance of earning a big point haul.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend
Mark Webber praises Oscar Piastri after the Miami Grand Prix
If any McLaren was going to produce a huge result for the team this weekend, on paper, it was always going to be Lando Norris.
The Brit is leading his teammate in the Drivers’ Championship and had a fully upgraded McLaren, whereas Piastri only had half the parts on his car.
However, it was Piastri who was keeping Max Verstappen in check after the first few laps after benefitting from a bold move from Sergio Perez going into the first corner that forced both Ferraris to take avoiding action.
Unfortunately, Piastri pitted just a couple of laps before a safety car came out, shuffling him down to 4 in the standings.
His teammate controlled the restart and while he pulled away from Verstappen at the front, Piastri was under pressure from Carlos Sainz.
The Spaniard was unhappy with his defensive driving but then picked up a penalty for his clumsy overtake on Piastri going into turn 17.
It meant that Sainz moved down a place to 5 after picking up a penalty, but Piastri won’t have too much sympathy.
Mark Webber wanted to highlight how well Piastri did in Miami despite coming away empty-handed…
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
Oscar Piastri misses out on points after Carlos Sainz clash
Posting on Instagram after the race, Webber said: “Totally magical drive from the veteran until the [safety car] came out.”
The ‘veteran’ is a joke from Webber than Piastri drives like someone with more than 28 Grand Prix to his name as he showed in Miami.
Unfortunately, Sainz’s overtaking move damaged Piastri’s front win and after losing places to Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton, the Australian had to pit again and change the damaged part.
Piastri did his best to drive through the backmarkers but despite securing the fastest lap, he only reached 13.
However, he will be very excited to head to Imola because he’ll have a fully upgraded car like Norris who showed today what that McLaren can achieve.
Lewis Hamilton told Norris he had to stick around after the Grand Prix and he was even hailed by Max Verstappen. Piastri may wonder if it should have been him earning that praise after a superb first stint in Miami.
The post Mark Webber says 28-race F1 star produced a ‘totally magical drive’ during the Miami Grand Prix appeared first on F1 Oversteer.