PIASTRI’S HOME ADVANTAGE

Oscar Piastri’s home advantage – Image: Supplied

Australian Oscar Piastri believes preparations for his maiden Formula 2 season are better than a majority of his European-based rivals having returned home in December.

By HEATH McALPINE

A member of the Renault Sport Academy, Piastri won last year’s Formula 3 Championship in dramatic fashion and continues with the team, which took him to the title, Prema in world motorsport’s second-tier.

A packed end to 2020 included Piastri’s first drive of a Formula 1 car and the FIA Formula 2 Championship season-ending test where he placed among the leading contenders.

Piastri is not daunted by the new challenge and is confident the preparation he is currently undertaking in Australia provides extra confidence for when he returns to Europe next month.

“I think it’s an advantage to be here honestly,” Piastri explained to AUTO ACTION.

“In the UK, they’re not doing anything because they are in lockdown. There are very few places to be than in Australia at the moment, so being in the sun and being able to train properly – not doing home workouts – is an advantage to me.

“I’m back home for the first time since May. I’m enjoying the warm weather while it lasts and getting out of the European lockdown.”

Although he holds no expectations approaching his maiden Formula 2 season, Piastri wants to be matching, if not exceeding teammate Robert Shwartzman, who finished fourth in the title last year.

“I wouldn’t rule out winning the championship,” Piastri said.

“It’s definitely not going to be easy and I don’t really have a specific aim where I finish. I’d like to be challenging my teammate Robert Shwartzman, I think in motorsport, your first comparison is your teammate and it is the best comparison as well.

“Hopefully, I can challenge Robert and beat him more often than not, and if I do that more often than not, I will be in pretty good nick in the championship.”

A new three-race format has been announced for Formula 2 this season, which adds to the new car, change of team personnel, pit stops and dual tyre compounds Piastri will have to adapt to.

“At the test we did, we only had one compound of tyres so I still haven’t experienced the compound change, which I think will be quite important to get that nailed. Particularly for qualifying,” said Piastri.

“There are pit stops in the race, so we did a bit of practice at the test but in the race situation it will be different. You can move or gain a lot in pit stops so it’s important to get on top of that, I’m sure we’ll do plenty of practice at the test before we race, but it’s definitely going to be a learning experience.”

Piastri will remain in Australia for another fortnight before travelling to Spain for a Renault Sport camp ahead of pre-season Formula 2 testing at Bahrain on March 9-11.

Read more from Oscar with our latest Up Front With Foges feature in Auto Action 1802.

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