Olympic pedigree on McLaren's pit wall: This medallist helps Oscar Piastri

F1 News

Olympic pedigree race engineer McLaren Tom Stallard medallist helps Piastri
3 August at 16:00
  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

While the Olympics Games are underway in Paris, the Formula One paddock is not shy of achievements at previous games either. On McLaren's pit wall, Tom Stallard, is a medallist himself. The Briton engineer won a silver medal back in Beijing in 2008. Oscar Piastri reacted to the achievement of his race engineer.

Helping Oscar Piastri throughout the weekends as his race engineer, Tom Stallard is an Olympian himself. Back at the summer games of 2008, the Briton earned a silver medal competing in rowing. Team GB's ship finished second in the men's eight competition, unlike in 2024, where they won gold ahead of the Netherlands.

Stallard's record is not something Piastri thought much about himself. "I have not paid much thought to it. I mean, it's obviously very cool for Tom to have that achievement in life and I think adds a pretty unique perspective for a race engineer to be a former athlete themselves. There's not many people in the paddock that can say that, I guess," said the man who has found his Dutch lookalike in Paris.

Still, the Australian appreciates Stallard's experience that could also help him each weekend. "I've been rowing with him before. For him it went well, not for me. I can see why he was so good at the Olympics. I think it does add a unique perspective. Obviously proud of his achievements and what it can bring to the table, I guess. Not much rowing techniques translates to driving, but I think definitely from the mindset point of view, it's a very interesting thing to have."