McLaren shared what it described as a “heartwarming” moment between Oscar Piastri and Harry at Sepang. Arranged during the busy Bahrain Grand Prix schedule, the meeting gave the young karting enthusiast, who has beaten leukaemia twice, time with the driver he admires. Harry currently competes in two-stroke karting.
Piastri showed him around the McLaren garage and talked him through the steering wheel of his Formula 1 car. The pair posed for photos, and the driver signed Harry’s cap and offered him karting advice. The exchange was therefore more than a chance to meet his hero: it also focused on a discipline Harry practises himself.
The Australian driver emphasised enjoyment and development. “For me, I always did a lot better when I made sure I was having fun,” he explained. He also encouraged Harry to keep learning and to set himself a goal, saying that this gives practice more purpose.
The post prompted emotional responses. One commenter said they were very happy to hear that Harry had beaten leukaemia twice and had been able to meet Oscar and receive his advice, wishing him a long, happy and healthy life. Others called it a special moment, thanked Oscar and McLaren, and praised the ability of drivers and teams to inspire young people and older fans alike. Further comments praised Piastri and the drivers on the grid.
The meeting came during a race week in which Piastri also discussed qualifying and his expectations for the Grand Prix. He qualified seventh for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia but was due to start sixth, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar facing a five-place grid penalty. At 25, Piastri did not expect the following day’s race to offer a “wildly different picture”.
At Sepang, he described the previous day’s long runs as “reasonable”, while noting that they had been shorter than those of other competitors. Given the number of laps completed, he felt they looked good, but not outstanding compared with the others. He also discussed disturbed air, a significant factor on a circuit with long, fast corners, and the impact of tyre degradation on strategy. Those race-focused comments contrasted with the more personal moment shared with Harry, while offering a glimpse of the different conversations Piastri had during the weekend.
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