McLaren boss Andrea Stella praised Oscar Piastri as the "best version" of the Australian driver after his Japanese Grand Prix podium, calling him "the strongest Oscar since he has been in Formula 1." After crashing in Melbourne and suffering mechanical issues in China, Piastri delivered a third-place finish in Suzuka, fending off Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Stella highlighted Piastri's mental resilience, noting his ability to overcome early-season setbacks and deliver "steadiness and strength" that energized the team.

Piastri admitted the Japanese GP was "probably one of my best weekends in F1," with McLaren's car performing strongly in qualifying and starts. However, he acknowledged reliability issues and a 15-second deficit to race-winner Kimi Antonelli exposed gaps to close. Stella emphasized the team's surprise at competing for wins but stressed the need for chassis upgrades to sustain consistency. Piastri's leadership and charisma were credited as a "boost for the entire team."

McLaren faces an uphill battle in the Constructors' Championship, trailing Mercedes by 89 points after three races. Piastri, who narrowly lost the 2023 title to teammate Lando Norris, called for improved reliability and pace. He noted progress in starts but conceded, "We've got a long way to go." Stella reiterated ambitions to challenge Mercedes, stating, "We will have to improve the chassis by a few tenths of a second."

Formula 1 returns May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Piastri's resurgence and McLaren's technical ambitions remain central to their 2024 title hopes, with the team balancing immediate results against long-term development.