Meet Formula 1's first Olympic medalist on podium as Oscar Piastri wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri's impressive win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was not only a personal milestone for the young driver but also a historic moment for Formula 1. Piastri, securing his second career victory in F1, was joined on the podium by his race engineer, Tom Stallard—an Olympic silver medallist in rowing, marking a unique achievement in the sport’s history.

The 23-year-old Australian executed a masterful race, including a decisive overtake on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc that helped him control the race from the front. Despite intense pressure from Leclerc, Piastri held his nerve and maintained the lead until the checkered flag.

His victory was not the only highlight of the day, as George Russell benefited from a dramatic late-race incident involving Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz to finish in third. Perez and Sainz collided while fighting for the podium on the second-to-last lap, opening the door for Russell to swoop in and claim the final spot on the podium.

McLaren's Lando Norris also delivered a standout performance, fighting his way from 15th to finish fourth, overtaking Max Verstappen in the process and helping McLaren leap ahead of Red Bull in the constructors' championship.

Who is Tom Stallard?

In keeping with F1 tradition, Piastri invited a key team member to join him on the podium. This time, it was Tom Stallard, his race engineer, who made a significant appearance. Stallard’s presence marked the first time an Olympic medallist had stood on an F1 podium.

Before entering the high-speed world of motorsport, Stallard competed as a rower, winning a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the men's eight. He also competed in the Athens 2004 Olympics and was a victorious participant in the prestigious University Boat Race.

Despite his Olympic success, Stallard admitted he was never fully satisfied with his second-place finish, as he revealed in an interview with The Athletic: "No one feels that happy with a silver medal, I'm not going to lie... but I felt I had done close enough to representing my ability at the Games to stop."

Since making the switch to F1, Stallard has worked with some of the biggest names in the sport, including 2009 world champion Jenson Button, Carlos Sainz, and Daniel Ricciardo. His experience and tactical insight have been instrumental in shaping Piastri’s F1 journey, having teamed up with the Australian for his debut season last year.