Stella: Piastri's win completes next McLaren 'milestone'

Andrea Stella has hailed Oscar Piastri's Qatar Grand Prix Sprint win as completing a "little milestone" in McLaren's journey towards the front of Formula 1.

Piastri converted Sprint pole into victory at Lusail, coming home ahead of new World Champion Max Verstappen for second with Lando Norris third in the sister McLaren.

The result took 13 points out of Aston Martin in McLaren's challenge for fourth in the Constructors' with the gap now 36 points, as Piastri became the first non-Mercedes or Red Bull driver to win a Sprint.

Reflecting on the result, Team Principal Stella praised the Melbourne-native after he also delivered a maiden Grand Prix podium last time out in Japan.

"We have positive emotions for various reasons," Stella told media including RacingNews365.

"Certainly we need to talk about Oscar because this victory came in a dominant way, he was P1 in the Sprint Shootout, and then he was very strong in the race, had strong pace and could match Verstappen's pace in the final laps.

"There was a racing situation with being overtaken, re-overtaking, so it was very well-deserved.

"It adds another piece of history to his career after the first podium so we are definitely delighted for Oscar, and then it is positive emotions for the team.

"We got a lot of points, another little milestone in our journey, and hopefully we can repeat the same in the Grand Prix.

"In terms of how it feels, everyone has worked so hard and contributed to turn the situation around and I have so much gratitude towards them.

"I hope they can enjoy this moment, because we often say to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, you need to somehow enjoy it.

"When you have these good results, you need to enjoy it and sustain the pace that Formula 1 requires."