PIASTRI F1 COLUMN: POSITIVE CHANGES AND GREAT RACING

Piastri’s F1 column as published in Auto Action magazine issue 1863 on sale June 15 2023.

The Canadian F1 Grand Prix is upon us, and I can’t wait to get back to it after a fortnight’s break following Barcelona. 

As a kid growing up, it was the scene of one of my favourite-ever races when Jenson Button won in his McLaren in 2011.

That race had everything and left me totally speechless. It seemed to go on for hours, had countless pit stops and the weather was all over the place.

 Running last with around 30 laps to go and overtaking Sebastian Vettel on the last lap was unbelievable.

I must have been about 10 years old at the time and I remember watching the whole thing back on repeat in awe.

I’ve actually seen the MP4-26 from that season at our Woking base, the McLaren Technology Centre, and those memories of being a little kid fascinated with the cars and drivers came flooding back.

Jenson Button on his way to a famous 2011 Canadian Grand Prix win. Image:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

The chrome finish on the McLarens back then was iconic for me as a fan watching on and the sound with all the V8 engines was incredible.

 Montreal is also a fascinating place that I’d love to explore properly one day. Some of the pictures of its historic quarters look really pretty and it would be good to spend some time there.

In all honesty, it’s always very tricky to fit anything non-curricular into race weekends because they are so busy and most of my time is spent at the track or in the hotel, resting.

So, exploring will have to be on the list for another time but I can understand why the Canadian Grand Prix is a big hit with all the fans.

Before the trip out to Montreal, I’ve spent a few days in the UK for the first time in a while. I’ve been back at the factory in the simulator and spent some time in the gym.

 We have five races between now and the summer break and it has been important to fine-tune my preparation ahead of another busy period.

I hadn’t been back in the UK because after the Monaco Grand Prix, I stayed in Monaco for a few days before travelling out to Barcelona.

Oscar Piastri walked on water to claim points at Monaco. Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images

It gave me a chance to reflect on an amazing weekend racing the streets of Monte Carlo for the first time in F1 and finishing in the points.

I walked all around the Principality including around the track and it was cool to think that in the days beforehand I had been taking those streets on in a F1 car.

 Barcelona was a strange one. The team had an amazing day on Saturday with both of us in Q3 but on Sunday, we seemed to struggle with the car’s underlying race pace.

That is something that we are trying on get on top of and put right and we’re hoping a few upgrades in the not-too-distant future will assist us with that.

There is one race I haven’t mentioned above and that is the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola that was called off due to the horrific flooding.

 I never made it out there as I was due to travel on the day that the decision was rightly taken not to proceed with the race.

It was incredibly sad to hear of the lives lost and devastation caused in the region and my thoughts are with all the victims and all the families and communities affected.

Thanks for all the ongoing support and I’ll be back with my next column after the British Grand Prix. 

Take care, OP

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