Oscar Piastri Describes the Physical Effects of a Long F1 Season
In just his second season in Formula 1, Oscar Piastri is already making waves as a future face of the sport. The McLaren driver has claimed Grand Prix victories in Hungary and Azerbaijan, along with five podium finishes. Before securing his contract with McLaren last year, he became the only driver to capture the Formula Renault, Formula 3, and Formula 2 championships in consecutive seasons.
Together with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri has propelled McLaren from a fourth-place finish in last season’s Constructors’ Championship to leading the pack this year. One of the most impressive aspects of the 23-year-old Australian is his poise under pressure—a trait that has become one of his greatest assets on the track.
Ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, the 23-year-old sat down with M&F to dive into the intense physical demands of jumping from F4 to F1. He opened up about the grueling 10-month season, along with the relentless travel across multiple time zones for 24 action-packed races.
Oscar Piastri Quickly Discovered the Demands of the F1 Schedule
Since joining the grid last year, Piastri has learned a great deal about enhancing his driving performance, but he admits that no advice could fully prepare him for the physical demands of the season off the track. This year’s schedule includes 24 races across 21 countries and five continents, placing a premium on adequate rest and diligent body care to keep up with the grueling pace.
“My F2 season had eights rounds,” said Piastri, who’s also partnered with Optimum Nutrition. “My first F1 season had 24. So, you’re tripling the amount of races. So, the day-to-day routine and keeping your body in top shape is much more important because you don’t have anywhere near as many breaks to be able to train properly.”
