Oscar Piastri: The stage in Qatar was the icing on the cake

Oscar Piastri became the best debutant of last season. The McLaren driver has two podiums, a victory in the sprint and a ninth place in the individual competition. In the interview, Oscar summarized the year and talked about his plans for the offseason.

Question: Were you able to achieve the results you expected in your debut season?
Oscar Piastri: I can say that I am satisfied with how my debut season went. I’m happy with the progress over the year, I’ve had a lot of fun with it and the best moments were the podium places and the sprint victory in the Qatar stage.

I learned a lot, but I still have some work to do for next season. I think I have laid a good foundation for 2024 and we can pick up where we left off.

Q: Which race was your most memorable?
Oscar Piastri: Race weekend in Qatar. I won the sprint qualifying, then the sprint itself, and the next day I was on the podium – a fantastic result. Considering the heat it was probably the toughest race of my career, but it was the end of a number of special days.

If we talk about other highlights, we can remember the sprint in Spa. At Silverstone I was close to the podium, but missed it because of the safety car. My first podium in Japan was great, but the icing on the cake was the stage in Qatar.

Question: The calendar for next season includes 24 stages. How do you prepare for such a busy racing schedule?
Oscar Piastri: First of all, it’s important to rest and recharge, so I’m taking a few weeks off to spend time with family and friends.

I always try to stick to my training schedule, so after my vacation is over, I’ll start preparing for next year. The main work is done in winter, and during the season you just need to stay in shape.

With more races scheduled for next year, it is of course very important to get in good physical condition before we leave for Bahrain.

Question: When exactly will you start preparing for 2024?
Oscar Piastri: During the off-season I try to gradually increase the load. The main work is scheduled for January and February, because you need to be ready for tests at the end of February.

It is important to organize your preparation for the season well, because it will simply be impossible to get into physical shape as the year progresses.

Question: Are you going to race during the winter break?
Oscar Piastri: I will definitely participate in virtual races with my friends and I hope to go karting in Australia. It’s just for fun, but it’s still great for keeping your competitive spirit alive.

Ask any Formula 1 driver: they will all say they love karting. The thrill of piloting remains the same and you are immediately transported back to the early years of your career.