The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix wasn’t the most exciting race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, but the two drivers at the front provided some late drama.
Max Verstappen came away with an important victory – although he wasn’t happy with one backmarker – despite the incredible pace of Lando Norris at the end of the Grand Prix.
Speaking ahead of the race for Sky Sports F1 (19/5 1:14pm), Damon Hill wanted to highlight another driver who has impressed him this weekend.
McLaren suddenly look like genuine contenders to challenge for race victories at every track after the upgrade package they delivered in Miami.
Lando Norris finished the race within a second of Verstappen and will be expecting he can add to his maiden victory before the end of the season.
Oscar Piastri might be eyeing a place on the top step of the podium soon as well and based on what he saw at Imola, Damon Hill thinks he could be challenging his teammate very soon.
There were times during the race when he looked absolutely rapid and once F1 returns to a track that encourages overtaking, it’ll be interesting to see what the young Australian can do.
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Damon Hill very impressed with McLaren star Oscar Piastri at Imola
After watching his teammate race to victory in Miami, Oscar Piastri was given a fully upgraded car in Imola.
He was seriously quick in qualifying, only missing out on pole position thanks to a tow given to Max Verstappen by Nico Hulkenberg.
However, at this point, McLaren would have already known that Piastri was unlikely to start on the front row.
He was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in Q1 putting him behind both Ferraris.
Carlos Sainz held him up throughout the first stint but once he pitted, it was obvious he was going to undercut the Spaniard.
He closed up to the back of Charles Leclerc very quickly as well, but couldn’t find a way past the 26-year-old.
Piastri settling for fourth at Imola but be slightly frustrating, but Hill thinks the 23-year-old is only getting better and better.
If he can replicate his speed over one lap in Monaco – without impeding another driver – then he’ll have a chance of securing his first victory at one of the sport’s most iconic tracks.
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Oscar Piastri going from strength to strength at McLaren
Speaking about the young McLaren driver, Hill said: “Yeah I think there’s a cautious respect for Lando [Norris, from Oscar Piastri] between them because they have to work together and they understand that.
“But, I definitely think that Oscar is stepping it up and trying to match Lando and he’s doing so and it’s emphatic, it’s quite clear that he’s got pace and he’s still learning.
“Lando will have his work cut out, he’s never going to get a clear gap I don’t think on Oscar.
It did look like that a little bit at the start of the season but I think Oscar’s coming back and in fine form.”
Hill’s right to praise Piastri for the way he’s closing the gap to Norris this season and the 23-year-old might be frustrated he didn’t get more out of his first race at Imola.
However, Karun Chandhok disagreed with his colleague suggesting that the jury is still out on how their partnership is going.
However, it’s a sign of how far McLaren have come in the last 12 months that a 2 and 4-place finish is considered a disappointment.
Just like many said it was only a matter of time until Norris got his first Grand Prix victory, it feels as though Piastri is the next winless driver in line to stand on the top step of the podium – if Sprint Races still don’t count towards a driver’s official tally.
The post ‘Stepping it up’: Damon Hill left seriously impressed by ‘emphatic’ driver who’s in ‘fine form’ right now appeared first on F1 Oversteer.