The 21-year-old is taking to Melbourne's Albert Park street circuit this weekend for the Australian Grand Prix. Still, the Melbourne-born driver persisted, regaining two places on track to finish 11th, three seconds adrift of Alpha Tauri's Yuki Tsunoda and behind McLaren teammate Piastri is quietly focused on extracting every extra 0.001 second of improvement and performance from himself and his car in pursuit his next dream. "I was a little bit frustrated to do the same time as Lance but it was a positive day and I'm looking forward to jumping out to qualify again tomorrow morning," Piastri said. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 12. WebBorn in Melbourne, just a stones throw away from the Australian Grand Prix venue, a young Oscar Piastris dreams of one day racing in Formula 1 were ignited by the sports star #OP81 #F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/M5Rej9j8jH, Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) April 30, 2023. (Francois Nel/Getty Images) "I'm feeling not too bad. Ricciardo will be at the race this weekend, now a reserve driver for Red Bull, and will remain a big fan pull. Piastri said he has "definitely" carried lessons from those days all the way to F1. Piastris strong technical feedback and understanding, even as a rookie, are important for McLaren right now. And while capturing the hearts of such fervent fans, over 400,000 of whom will flock to Albert Park this weekend, will be no mean feat, Piastri looks to have the skills and the character to do it. Whether its engineering, commercial or marketing, those things are essential to turning pro. "He used to stand on a milk crate to actually see over the railing to see his car driving around the track.". Add in gobs of talent, and Piastri has made himself the most-scrutinized Formula One rookie in years. We bought remote-controlled cars when I was on a business trip in America and Oscar took to that incredibly. He took a giant leap forward the following season, finishing second in the British F4 Championship, and the last Aussie to win an F1 Drivers Championship, Alan Jones, said it showed the huge determination Piastri had to succeed. 11. Alex Albon (Williams) 13. Sunday was obviously nice to see the end at least. Formula One can sometimes be a particularly cruel sport, as Oscar Piastri found out at the Azerbaijan GP in Baku. Race head to head: tied 1-1 with Lando Norris when both have finished. Australian racing driver Oscar Piastri is known for currently serving as the reserve driver for Alpine F1 Team. Talent, nerve and lots of cash: F2 champion Oscar Piastris $6.5m F1 dream, he was named by grand prix racing team Alpine. Race head to head: tied 1-1 with Lando Norris when both have finished. I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.. The comments below have not been moderated. When to judge the moment, when not to panic, when to overtake. Almost identically to his idol Daniel Ricciardo, Piastri started his career on the local karting scene. But he said there were plenty of positives from last round to give everyone a clearer idea of what he and the team were capable of. And it was here that Piastri and father Chris, who were aware of young Oscar's special talent, enlisted the help of Aussie F1 legend Mark Webber and his wife, Anne. 21 Year Olds. Notwithstanding the bad luck Piastri endured on track, the McLaren driver was also battling an illness which his manager, former F1 race winner Mark Webber, said had resulted in him being several kilograms lighter by the end of the round. But a great deal of that is travel, fuel, flights, accommodation, the time commitment, Chris said. The Melbournite started racing remote-controlled cars at a national level before beginning his career in 2011 at the Oakleigh Go-Karting club. The keen Richmond supporter said he would resist the temptation to join 90,000 supporters at the MCG on Friday night when the Tigers face Collingwood in a blockbuster, instead favouring an early night in bed to give himself the best chance of performing at Albert Park. This is definitely something that needs to be discussed. Piastri gave the team its brightest point of the opening two rounds in Saudi Arabia, qualifying ninth, only for damage on the opening lap to force him to pit very early, leaving him with a P15 finish. The Piastri family are, undoubtedly, petrol heads. ", MORE:F1 qualifying results: Charles Leclerc on pole for Azerbaijan Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen. The 22-year-old Australian replaced Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 season, after winning the Formula 2 championship in 2021. Alpine made Piastri its reserve driver and gave him an extensive private testing program that promised, in an era of limited track time, to make him one of the best-prepared rookies by the time he eventually got the chance to make the step to F1. Piastris father estimated that the first year cost around 250,000 and the second season 400,000. But also behaving myself on food this week. Contending for the F2 championship is a bare minimum for anyone wanting to step up to F1, not least for getting the required super license points. His fathers name is Chris Piastri, and his mother is Nicole Piastri. Thanks to the fame and fortune he has earned from his work as of today. "I've run out of ways to prove myself," he tells Chris Medland Piastri and Prema team celebrate clinching the F2 title in Abu Dhabi Joe Portlock/F1 via Getty Images Author Chris Medland Turning pro at 13, the student of Melbourne's prestigious Haileybury College became too talented to be a big fish in a small pond - so off he headed to board at the schools UK campus aged 15. Moreover, talking about the overall body measurement, the number ranges have not been revealed yet. The excellence continued as he made the leap up to F2 with Prema in 2021, and he won in just his second race after some brilliant driving from sixth on the grid. Teams will have a handful of drivers on their junior rosters, typically at slightly different ages, ideally to get a regular run of F1-ready racers. "You've got to be very committed when you first go over there it's definitely hard at the beginning.". WebBorn in Melbourne, just a stones throw away from the Australian Grand Prix venue, a young Oscar Piastris dreams of one day racing in Formula 1 were ignited by the sports star drivers roaring around his local streets, otherwise known as Albert Park. He started racing them and got third place in his first-ever event against 20 and 30-year-olds when he was just six,' Chris told the Sydney Morning Heraldin 2021. One of the most skilled drivers in racing we have seen has been driven by enthusiasm ever since. "I think everyone else in the restaurant was looking at us," Sera said. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. his performance in Melbourne included the benefit of AlphaTauris new Chris estimates that back then - 15 years ago - he might have spent $10,000 on remote-controlled cars. Piastri wasn't the only driver to suffer misfortune at the hands of the safety car deployment, with championship leader Max Verstappen brought undone by the timing as well. WebOscar Jack Piastri (born 6 April 2001) is an Australian racing driver currently competing in Formula One for McLaren. Well, a couple of weeks ago, I would say that I was not looking forward to it, he said of the break. Since thenhe achieved an unprecedented feat, winning three junior racing categories in successive years yet he was paying to play. His introduction to racing was through radio-controlled cars, of all things, where he competed professionally from a young age. [1] En 2023 es piloto de McLaren en Frmula 1. Melbournes Oscar Piastri has worked his way up through the world junior open-wheel ranks. P10 for Sundays race! The player is also the fifth driver to win the GP3/Formula 3 Championship and GP2/Formula 2 Championship in successive seasons. We decided that it was right for him to start boarding school in September of that year and that I would go over every few weeks, Chris said. If you are weak mentally you wont make it. Hes very calm, said Andrea Stella, McLarens team principal. Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri says Albert Park reminds him just as much of his junior football and cricket days growing up in Melbourne as it does of his experiences coming to the grand prix as a kid. 'I think he can go on to be world champion,' Jones told the Herald Sun on Saturday. WebOscar Piastri (* 6.April 2001 in Melbourne, Victoria) ist ein australischer Automobilrennfahrer.Er wurde 2020 Meister in der FIA-Formel-3-Meisterschaft und wiederholte diesen Erfolg 2021 in der FIA-Formel-2-Meisterschaft.Nachdem er sich 2022 als Testfahrer fr das Alpine F1 Team in der Formel 1 bettigte, geht er in der Saison 2023 als Hes always referred to the race as the Melbourne Grand Prix, not the Australian Grand Prix. WebOscar Piastri is a racing car driver from Melbourne. Piastri signed on with Aussie F1 legend Mark Webber (left) and his partner Anne (right) while he was racing in the lower tiers, and the pair now manage the young prodigy's career. Oscar Piastri was born in Melbourne to Italian-Australian parents. But as success in Formula 4 and Formula Renault Eurocup put him on the trajectory toward F1, Piastri looked for a more experienced hand to guide him forward. Piastri is quite literally the poster boy for this weekends race in Melbourne. Sera remains close with the Piastri family and joined them at a Melbourne restaurant last year to celebrate the news Piastri was joining Formula 1. 'We bought remote-controlled cars when I was on a business trip in America and Oscar took to that incredibly. The 21-year-old from Melbourne claimed the Formula Three championship in 2020 to announce his arrival on the world stage. He was on his own from an early age. Both Piastri's grandfathers were mechanics and father, Chris, owns a vehicle diagnostics company. Piastri admits his championship winning streak will not continue this year. Six weeks after the tweet, the Contract Recognition Board found Alpine had yet to have a valid agreement with Piastri beyond 2023. "In the racing scene, it's a pretty big deal.". Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 14. I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. That determination has stood him in good stead. "Getting closer to F1, it was more and more difficult [financially]," Piastri said, adding this was particularly the case in the Formula 2 category in 2021. Sunday's main event will be Piastri's first race on Glad no one was hurt but we must ensure things like that dont happen again. Verstappen and Perez are battling it out in Baku. The karts are not the expensive part, it is the travel, accommodation, the time off work, time off school. We were getting up at 4am, driving to Stansted airport [north-east of London], getting on a plane, getting into a go-kart, spending a week in Italy, then coming back, staying miles from anywhere in little country towns.. His dad made the UK home for six-months, before returning home, while Piastri attended boarding school and made his way to races across the UK and Europe. Piastri finished 13th after qualifying an impressive 10th, with his race compromised both by lap one contact and later, a slow pitstop. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. But the racing disease would not go away, he wants it very much. A really solid weekend.'. I have a successful business, but I dont walk down the street and drop $100 notes and keep walking.. Thats not Piastri. He stayed at his mother's house one night, has resisted adventuring around his home city, and kept media engagements to a minimum. But as it focused on retaining Fernando Alonso, who was out of contract at the end of 2022, it tried to loan Piastri to the backmarker Williams squad for a couple of years, similar to how Mercedes placed George Russell at the team from 2019 to 2021. He continued to race remote-controlled cars at a National level, winning the second-level of competition aged just nine, before it was time to graduate for the big boy karts. So read the Piastri tweet, sent two days into F1s summer break, that lit the fuse for a contract saga that dominated F1s news cycle for months. I wont be going to the footy on Friday, Ill be trying to get a good nights rest. Despite turning in two terrific drives in both the sprint race and the grand prix, the 22-year-old walked away without a single point. The first-season driver, who grew up in a nearby suburb to the Albert Park circuit, was chosen as a flag holder for Toro Rosso Ferrari driver Daniil Kyvat in Melbourne He knew he had something special on his hands. Australia's Oscar Piastri had a terribly unlucky day at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. WebOscar Piastri (Melbourne, 6 d'abril de 2001) s un pilot d'automobilisme australi que actualment s pilot de proves de l'equip Alpine F1 Team.En la temporada 2023 competir 'SHOULD NOT HAPPEN': F1 disbelief over 'terrifying' incident at Azerbaijan GP, 'IT WAS TOUGH': Daniel Ricciardo opens up in sad revelation about exit. Weve been managing it very well. Sports news, results and expert commentary. The whole saga is one that few are eager to look back on The Athletic was told ahead of the interview that neither the team nor Piastri would comment on it anymore but it threatened to overshadow the realization of Piastris dream to become an F1 driver. Testing was all over Italy, France, Belgium, Sweden, UK, Spain, Portugal. After winning three titles in three years, current F2 champion Oscar Piastri finds himself without a seat in Formula 1 and no racing plans for 2022. ', Piastri (centre) celebrates winning a Nationals title at a Karting Australia tournament in 2015, Piastri was a talented karter in Australia before pursuing his career in Europe aged 15. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7.30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV. Of the 10 teams, McLaren and AlphaTauri are the only outfits not to secure a point in the season's first two races. Piastri, who drives for McLaren, said becoming the first Melburnian to compete in an Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park was surreal. Then soon he went on to European championships in 2015 with Ricky Flynn Motorsport 2015. Five more wins and five more podiums followed as he won the Championship yet again. I really loved my time there, said Piastri. Im in good hands, he said. Last modified on Sat 3 Sep 2022 04.10 EDT. It also takes perseverance, strength, nerve, athleticism, the right equipment and a team of people devoted to the cause. The 21-year-old Piastri, who replaced popular compatriot Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren for the 2023 season, grew up a 15-minute drive from the circuit but has never driven a race around it. 11. I think we have a good chance, of course, for a result but we do need to execute a good weekend.. (Francois Nel/Getty Images) "I'm feeling not too bad. The Australian driver enjoyed a dream-like first home Grand Prix, delivering his maiden points in Formula 1 in front of a record-breaking Melbourne crowd. The following year, he moved to Europe two continents and nine time zones away to tackle the top tier of go-karting before stepping up to formula cars. The first-season driver, who grew up in a nearby suburb to the Albert Park circuit, was chosen as a flag holder for Toro Rosso Ferrari driver Daniil Kyvat in Melbourne He knew how hard it was to make it to F1 as an Australian, being so far from home, and his experience would prove critical to helping Piastri follow in his footsteps. It even questioned Piastris character: Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer went as far as saying he wished Piastri had a bit more integrity and noted how much time and money the team had spent getting him ready for F1. But then I got really ill and (have) just been struggling a bit since that time, especially the last result. While he holds an Australian nationality and practices Christianity. Funding for a Hobart stadium is locked in, but what happens if there's a cost blowout? The fact Piastri was the man to take Ricciardos seat could make him a harder sell to the more generic Australian sports fan. At 14 years old, Piastri moved to England. At just 19 years old and in his debut year, Oscar As the 21-year-old prepares to race in the city he was born and raised in, many voices in racing are speaking about just how impressive that rise through the ranks has been. But because Stroll was first to record the time, he was given the advantage and ninth place on the grid. All up - living costs, rental cars, accommodation - Piastri senior estimates that exercise cost around 250,000 - half a million dollars. But its pretty special to have someone holding my flag this time. Further, the player has not been endorsed by any brands till today. While he weighs 68kg. Moving on to the romantic and private life of Oscar Piastri, he is not married. Could have been a big, big one today. There is a lot to learn for a 10-year-old, Chris said. Piastris manager Mark Webber revealed the 21-year-old had lost 3 kilograms since arriving in Baku. 'Everything he has ever put his bum in, he has won and there are not too many people that can say that. Hes always been calm, really polite and kind, said Rosin. People think the top drivers get there because Dad has a big AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/oscar-piastri-formula-1-career-grand-prix-starting-grid/102172834, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Everything you need to know about the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, These borrowers' repayments are about to jump, but they feel they dodged a bullet, Faceless agents control Louise's life. Of F1s current drivers, only three have won Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in consecutive years: Ferraris Charles Leclerc, Mercedes George Russell, and Piastri. He won his second race in Bahrain, led the championship by midseason, and finished the year with five consecutive pole positions, matching Leclercs record from 2017. Reportedly feeling under the weather during his stay in Azerbaijan, Piastri shrugged off these concerns to finish in the top ten, a result which combined with teammate Lando Norris' seventh place represented the best qualifying result of the season for McLaren. 'It shows commitment and a desire,' he said of Piastri's move to the UK in his mid-teens. Prodigiously talented F1 star Oscar Piastri has made a stunning rise through the ranks ahead of his home race at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix - but it cost his parents up to $6.5million to realise that dream. Apart from it, he has no affairs with any other person. Alpine was happy to wait until as late as 2025 to get its young driver into a seat. Taking his place among the 20 drivers on the Formula 1 grid is a dream that could haveeasily never happened for Australian Oscar Piastri. ", Heres the full clip of the utter shambles of organization mentioned above. Only Charles Leclerc and George Russell have won the F3 and F2 in consecutive years, and one of F1's most respected voices, David Croft,said that really underscored how impressive the Aussie's achievements are. To make it a reality now is awesome.. The Piastris fallsomewhere in the middleof that spectrum. Sorry I havent seen most of you this weekend. 'We realised that we were getting a lot closer to the top of the ladder during my Formula Renault season but felt that we needed some help,' Piastri said of enlisting Webber, a nine-time winner, as his manager. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. I think I didnt really change that much from Bahrain, but the results in qualifying were much different, obviously getting to Q3 [the top 10 fastest] this time. At that point Oscar had won Formula Renault the prize there was about 200,000 euros but it still meant we had to find about 500,000 euros to get on the grid for F3 with the Prema team.. Oscar Piastri (second from left) at the official Formula 1 press conference on Thursday. Oscar Piastri slipped one place down to 11th on the opening lap, before a slow pit stop kept him behind Yuki Tsunoda. People think the top drivers get there because Dad has a big chequebook, but they dont. Australia's Formula One driver Oscar Piastri has been warned the home-town hype could exhaust him before arriving at the Melbourne circuit. Piastri's F1 career got off to a diabolical start in Bahrain, with his much-maligned McLaren forced out with engine failure, Piastri was all smiles after McLaren confirmed he would be one of their F1 drivers in 2023. Still a lot we can learn and a lot we can look at after the weekend.". By May, McLaren had decided it would pay off Daniel Ricciardos contract for him not to race in 2023 and made Piastri its prime target to replace him. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. It was such a slog, Oscar was 15 at the time. But weve got a plan in place. Oscar managed to work his way through most of the local competitions and found himself challenging much older kids at the regional level. Thats how you learn, having independence and having to be responsible for the consequences of decisions at a young age.. Oscar Piastri has called McLaren team-mate Lando Norris a benchmark for him to hit, as the Australian settles into his rookie season in the paddock. I could hear the cars from the backyard of my house, Piastri told The Athletic. Thank you to the whole team for all the hard work over the break Sprint tomorrow. Sign up for our Sport newsletter. "Getting through those junior categories in the speed I did definitely helped. A big focus for him remains to make those human connections and instill that family spirit that served him so well at Prema, just on a much bigger scale. Melbournes Oscar Piastri has worked his way up through the world junior open-wheel ranks. The prodigious youngster believed he was instantly set up for success thanks to that remote-controlled car background. 'He was nine or 10 [when he started]. He was very smooth, he knew the lines so quickly. Many keen observers have remarked he always seemed unflappable in the driving seat despite competing against boys who were many years older than him. OSCAR PIASTRI. Alpine fought it to F1s Contract Recognition Board. He was very interested in racing and driving cars from a very early age and wanted to be a racing driver from a very early age. Its not been too crazy, and [has] allowed me to focus on driving, which is nice., Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez stand either side of their reserve driver, Australian Daniel Ricciardo ahead of the grand prix in Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images. "I think I still learned a lot about time management in this race, so definitely not a waste. Piastri, 21, has had a sensational rise to the elite level, winning Formula 3 (2020) and Formula 2 (2021) titles before sitting on the sidelines as Alpines Formula 1 Aries. We know what our issues are and where we need to improve, which I guess is half the battle.. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. He could recite how quick cars were, the horsepower, how much speed they had, Chris recalls. Moreover, his Twitter account @OscarPiastri has 254.7k followers. McLaren recorded a double-points finish last time out in Melbourne - Piastri's first points in F1 - but that was largely due to the chaos that unfolded at the last restart, Sven-Goran Eriksson reveals he told Roman Abramovich to buy Chelsea and NOT Spurs in a nightclub, because he 'Have a reality check and know your place': Rio Ferdinand tells Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to 'sit back 'I did my homework. Australia's Oscar Piastri had a terribly unlucky day at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. for that goal to be within reach for the Even racing remote-controlled cars as a young boy cost the company owner $10,000 a year; with go-karts needing between $50,000-$75,000 a year.