Piastri wins Baku after overruling engineer’s advice

Oscar Piastri secured his second Formula 1 victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a move that defied both his race engineer's advice and the laws of probability.

The Australian rookie's audacious pass on Charles Leclerc proved to be the pivotal moment in a race that tested both drivers' tire management and nerves to the limit.

A case of now or never

Piastri's winning overtake came on lap 20 of the 53-lap race, immediately following the sole pitstop sequence.

The McLaren driver found himself presented with a fleeting opportunity to seize the lead from Leclerc's Ferrari.

"I saw half an opportunity after the pitstop and knew I had to try and take it,"

Piastri explained.

"At that point, I felt like trying to stay back and wait for Charles to [suffer tyre] degradation was never going to happen. I thought we were just going to secure us P2."

The rookie's instincts told him it was a case of now or never, despite the inherent risks involved in such a move at Baku's notoriously tricky Turn 1.

Defying team orders

In a moment of split-second decision-making, Piastri chose to disregard his race engineer Tom Stallard's cautionary advice.

"My engineer came on the radio and said, 'Let's not do that again', basically,"

Piastri recounted, referring to his earlier attempts to push hard on the medium tires.

"I completely ignored him the next lap and sent it down the inside..."

This bold move, executed against team guidance, underscores the fine line between calculated risk and recklessness in Formula 1.

Piastri's gamble paid off, but not without a heart-stopping moment for both driver and spectators.

A bold move

The Australian's candid admission in the cool-down room revealed just how close he came to disaster.

Piastri confided to Leclerc that he felt there was only a 50/50 chance of avoiding the Turn 1 wall during his late lunge.

"It was a high-risk, high-commitment move but that's what I needed to do to try and win the race,"

Piastri stated. He also praised Leclerc's fair play during the intense battle, acknowledging the Ferrari driver's sportmanship in a high-pressure situation.

Defending the lead

Securing the lead was only part of Piastri's challenge.

The rookie then faced the daunting task of defending against a relentless Leclerc for the remainder of the race.

With both drivers struggling on hard tires, Piastri's ability to maintain his position under intense pressure proved crucial.

"Trying to soak up that pressure for so long in that race was incredibly tough,"

Piastri admitted.

"Getting into the lead was going to be, let's say 40% of the job, but I knew that hanging on to it was going to be 60%."

The Australian's flawless defense, particularly against Leclerc's DRS-assisted attacks, showcased his maturity and skill under pressure.

Despite making a few minor errors, Piastri managed to break free from DRS range in the closing laps, securing a well-deserved victory.