Oscar Piastri is in a tiny side room at The Espy, St Kilda’s renowned hotel, located merely a short distance away from where he will be striving for victory in Sunday’s Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The event is invite-only, with questions vetted by public relations teams beforehand, yet Piastri—a local star who has claimed championships in both F2 and F3—is not dodging inquiries into whether he believes he can secure the Formula 1 World Championship for McLaren in 2025.
I believe I have what it takes to become [F1 World Champion]," he states. "This upcoming year will demand immense dedication, and the competition is set to be extremely close.
It’s likely to be even closer than it was at the close of last season. Winning a title isn’t unfamiliar territory for me... very various attempts to achieve it in Formula 1.
“But I’ve had that experience before. I know what it takes. I think now I have all the tools I need to try and achieve a championship.”
The appearance at this Jack Daniel’s event is just one of multiple engagements Piastri has scheduled for Wednesday. A dedicated group ensures he transitions smoothly between these sponsor commitments with impeccable timing, preventing any distraction from the excitement surrounding his home grand prix week and allowing him to stay concentrated on his primary responsibilities.
The Australian Grand Prix this weekend marks the start of the new season, with McLaren being at the forefront. has extended Piastri's contract On Wednesday morning, they hold last year’s constructors' championship title. By 2025, Piastri might face his primary competition from someone else. his teammate, Lando Norris .
Piastri had some leisure time in Australia during the off-season, where he attended the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open, then shifted his focus to pre-season Formula 1 testing in Bahrain. Nonetheless, it wasn't all relaxation, as Piastri continued to utilize the resources at the Victorian Institute of Sport, situated inside the Albert Park circuit, to maintain peak physical form—a necessity for F1 drivers.
"It's practically like my neighborhood gym. They have all the equipment I require," stated Piastri about the facilities. Similar to other top-tier drivers, strengthening his neck was among his main focuses.
“A little while ago we conducted a test where I managed to lift slightly more than 50 kilograms using one side of my neck. I was quite pleased with that result.”
As the city's cornerstone sport, Australian Rules Football, kicks off with the inaugural AFL match in Melbourne on Thursday evening between Richmond and Carlton, this year’s Grand Prix at the Albert Park street circuit will boast an extra spark, largely due to the ongoing excitement surrounding Piastri.
The city is experiencing papaya fever, with black and papaya-orange hues adorning the McLaren vehicles.
Piastri, who turns 24 next month, is gearing up for his third Formula 1 season, having secured two Grand Prix victories in the previous year. An overdue victory for an Australian driver on home turf is finally possible.
However, McLaren limited his public engagements and travels this week to keep his focus solely on his primary objective: aiming for a podium finish at Albert Park on Sunday, and the chance to become Australia’s first homegrown victor since Alan Jones in 1980.
Navigate any junction within inner-city Melbourne, and you're bound to feel the excitement. Piastri's visage adorns numerous billboards. Craving a burger? You can get yourself a "special edition" Piastri Wagyu burger from a popular fast-food joint. Enjoy a pasture-fed, top-quality Wagyu beef patty served on a char-grilled bun paired with an enhanced OP chipotle mayonnaise and crunchy bacon…
Oscar’s mother, Nicole Piastri, previously mentioned that her eldest child among her four offspring—the F1 driver with three younger sisters—was "uncomfortably mature." She stated, "It feels like he's an elderly person trapped inside a young man's body.” As I followed Piastri through Melbourne on Wednesday and listened intently to everything he said, his mom's comment made perfect sense.
Subsequently, during his appearance at an additional Airwallex-sponsored event, Piastri provided more profound insights.
"Entering the season, realistically, there are likely only about eight drivers who have a genuine shot at securing the championship this year," he stated.
He elaborated on the importance of having Webber as part of his management team. Piastri mentioned that he had been using Webber’s "experience as my guidance."
"He has followed a comparable path from Australia, but for me, the genuine advantage is undoubtedly the knowledge he gained during his Formula 1 career," Piastri stated.
Mark remains remarkably astute when it comes to noticing small details and strives to assist both me and the entire team in enhancing our performance.
The Australian Grand Prix has experienced tremendous success this decade, boasting fully booked race weekends partly due to its significant impact. Netflix series Drive To Survive , This has sparked new enthusiasm for Formula 1, particularly amongst women viewers. Seeing Piastri standing on top of the podium or even just being up there on Sunday could do wonders for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.
"There's significant excitement surrounding Oscar for the first round," stated AGPC CEO Travis Auld.
That shouldn't concern Oscar overly much, you would not assume.
“It’s not something we overlook that such a compact nation can boast having two Australian racers [Piastri and rookie Jack Doohan] competing on the circuit.”
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