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2 Years In, Oscar Piastri Adjusts to This Surprising Reality of Being an F1 Driver

Somin Bhattacharjee
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2 Years In, Oscar Piastri Adjusts to This Surprising Reality of Being an F1 Driver

After a strong rookie season with McLaren in 2023, Oscar Piastri became a race winner this season. As a result, his popularity has soared by leaps and bounds. While that was expected, Piastri finds it challenging to deal with.

During an interview with Lissie Mackintosh, Piastri reflects on his F1 journey to date. The excitement of driving the fastest cars in the world for a living is something the Aussie truly appreciates, and is grateful for.

“The thing that’s been the weirdest to get used to is people recognizing you,” Piastri says. “People recognizing you on the track, that’s one thing. But people recognizing you on the streets, and dinner and stuff, you can’t really train for that kind of stuff.” 

F1 drivers also have to appear in front of the media, for interviews and other duties. Teams also record segments for their YouTube channels and social media, which takes some getting used to.

“No one can teach you, or train you, how to be famous,” the Melbourne-born driver adds.

At the same time, Piastri recognizes that fame comes with being at the top. He appreciates everything the fans bring to the sport, and does not want to disappoint them.

“You do have to draw a line” – Piastri 

Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris struggled a lot with fame, as it interfered with his personal life. In interviews, Norris spoke about how fans would stalk and approach him when he would be out for dinner with his friends, or a date.

Piastri hasn’t had similar problems so far, but admits to his F1 popularity taking a toll on his personal life. Not wanting to displease fans, Piastri also feels that they “have to draw” a line at some point, out of respect and understanding.

“But I wouldn’t say, it’s necessarily bad,” he says.

There aren’t a lot of people who cross their limits, which is why even though Piastri is taking time to get used to the F1 style of life, he enjoys it.

Post Edited By:Aishwary Gaonkar

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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