EXCLUSIVE: Aussie star Oscar Piastri 'in the Schumacher bracket' as high praise given
Oscar Piastri's methodical approach has been compared to F1 legends Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher.
And it's why a former Australian F1 driver believes the McLaren ace has the edge over compatriot Daniel Ricciardo.
While Ricciardo is arguably the most likeable driver on the grid, fans on social media have often labelled Piastri's persona as bland or boring.
READ MORE: 'Past his best' Ricciardo shuts down Aussie champ
READ MORE: Mixed reports over shock death of Sabalenka's boyfriend
READ MORE: Huge Broncos blow as Haas ruled out of GF rematch
But David Brabham, the youngest son of Australian three-time world champion Sir Jack Brabham, said this meticulous and calculated approach is straight out of the Prost and Schumacher playbooks.
Oscar Piastri's approach to F1 has been compared to that of legends Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Given it led them to 11 world championships between them, it's a pretty good example to follow.
Piastri last week said his personality was "most similar" to Prost, a four-time world champion who earned the nickname 'The Professor' for his brilliant strategic and analytical approach.
"With Prost, everything was calculated to win world championships," Brabham told Wide World of Sports.
Every 2024 Formula 1 livery: Red Bull's strange source of inspiration for new-look RB20
Every 2024 Formula 1 livery: Red Bull's strange source of inspiration for new-look RB20
"He calculated it all the way through, where (Ayrton) Senna was emotional (but) had the outright speed and was sort of godlike.
"Prost was very different in his approach, but put the two together in the same car, you didn't know who was going to win.
"I'd put Oscar in the Prost and Schumacher bracket – he's 100 per cent dedicated to the racing and doesn't really care about all the other stuff."
The 'other stuff' Brabham is referring to is off-track chutzpah, which Brabham admitted Ricciardo has by the bucketload.
Piastri on his way to fourth in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Getty
Schumacher and Prost were often quite simple and straightforward with media, like Piastri is now.
"It doesn't interest (Piastri). He's only interested in driving and talking about the car and about the strategy – that's all he cares about," Brabham, who spent two years in F1 in 1990 and 1994, said.
"He's not into all the other fluff. Some drivers love the fluff – Daniel, I think, loves the fluff.
"But they're very different characters and that mindset will make an impact and difference on each performance each weekend.
"You can see Daniel being a bit up and down because of it and you can see Oscar being more flatline … consistent."
McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo last year. Kym Illman via Getty Images
But when being quick in a race car is their main job, Brabham said that is advantage Piastri.
"When I look at him and Daniel, they're so different in character and so different in the way they go about it and what they say," he said.
"I think for Daniel it's very easy for him to be distracted by being an F1 racing driver, where Oscar just wants to get on with it.
"He's very unemotional in that sense, which makes him perform in a certain way.
"Going into the weekend if you asked who I have the most confidence in getting the most out of their situation, Daniel or Oscar, I'd say Oscar."
Finishes of eighth and fifth in the opening two races of the season have put Piastri fifth in the world championship.
Practice for the Australian Grand Prix begins on Friday.
