NewsHail
23 May 2025
Oscar Piastri stays calm, even in high-pressure moments.
He doesn’t argue with rivals.
He doesn’t yell on the radio.
He doesn’t seek drama.
This calm attitude has been clear since he started in Formula 1 two years ago. Now, seven races into the season, it is helping him lead the title race. At just 24 years old, he could soon achieve his dream.
Piastri says this calmness is natural but also takes work.
“Maybe it’s in my genes,” he says. “But I work hard to stay in control. I’m still human, so I still feel things. But staying calm is a strength for me.”
He says it helps to put things in perspective.
Piastri is known for being calm and having dry humor.
He doesn’t care much for the fame and fuss around F1.
“I just like racing,” he says. “That’s what I’m here to do. I want to go fast and beat other people. That’s it.”
He says he’s a simple guy.
“In this sport, it's easy to lose yourself,” he adds. “But I try to stay real. What you see is what you get.”
He moved to Europe at age 14 to chase his dream.
His dad stayed with him for a few months, but then Piastri went to boarding school alone in England.
“It made me grow up fast,” he says.
“I knew what I wanted. I wanted to race in F1. And going to Europe was the way to get there.”
Piastri is leading the championship by 13 points over his teammate Lando Norris.
He won his first race in Hungary last year. Then he won again in Azerbaijan.
He is known for smart, bold overtakes.
This season, he passed Lewis Hamilton twice in thrilling moves—once in Australia in the rain, and once in Saudi Arabia on a dusty part of the track.
Are his calm nature and bold moves connected?
“They might seem opposite,” he says. “But I think being calm helps me make smart choices in those moments.”
Even Max Verstappen, the four-time champion, respects him.
Max once said no one can pass him on the outside. But Piastri did just that—twice.
“I already knew Max was tough to pass,” Piastri says. “But I race the same way. We both race hard, but fair.”
He says the key is being precise.
“I don’t try moves that won’t work,” he explains. “I wait for the right time and then go for it.”
He learned this early in his career.
“If you don’t commit, that’s when things go wrong,” he says. “You have to trust yourself and go all in.”
Last year, Norris was clearly the faster McLaren driver.
This year, things have changed.
Piastri now beats Norris more often in qualifying and has four wins. Norris has only one.
What changed?
“The team improved the car,” Piastri says. “And we worked on me as well. We’ve improved everywhere.”
He focused on small gains.
“Finding a few hundredths of a second here and there adds up,” he says.
He studied his driving and compared it with Norris.
“Nobody drives the same,” he says. “But I learned from Lando. He’s very quick. Now I can put everything together better.”
Both McLaren drivers are in the title fight.
Verstappen is third, 22 points behind Piastri.
Does Piastri worry that Verstappen might benefit if he and Norris keep splitting points?
“It’s possible,” he says. “But we both want to win. Beating your teammate is always part of the goal. That helps the team too.”
If Verstappen wins, Piastri says it will hurt—but it will still be fair.
Does Piastri think about becoming world champion?
“Yes,” he says. “But I’ve been working towards this for years. If I just keep doing well in each session, the championship will take care of itself.”
He knows pressure will rise later in the season.
“But right now, I’m just trying to win every race.”
