Oscar Piastri, the 24-year-old Formula 1 driver from Melbourne, Australia, is known for his calm and collected demeanor—both on and off the track. Whether in his easygoing social media posts or his steady performances under pressure, his composure stands out. At the recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, he proved his mettle when Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s dominant champion, made an aggressive move at the first turn. Piastri smoothly slipped past and held the lead for the next 50 laps, securing the win. Even Verstappen, not usually one for praise, acknowledged Piastri’s skill, calling him “very solid” and admiring his calm approach.

With victories in Jeddah, Bahrain, and Shanghai, Piastri now leads the F1 standings—though with 19 races left, he’s keeping his focus. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool to be leading now,” he says with a slight smile, “but I want to be on top after round 24, not just round 5.” Fresh off a flight from Nice, he’s in New York for a McLaren event before heading to Miami, where he has a shot at a rare three-race winning streak. Yet, true to form, he remains unfazed.

His steady mindset isn’t just luck—it’s something he works on. “A lot of it comes naturally, but there’s also a conscious effort to maintain it,” he admits. “I still feel pressure and nerves, but it’s about channeling them the right way. You have to know yourself.”

In just two years with McLaren, Piastri has become a rising star in the U.S., boosted by F1’s growing popularity thanks to Drive to Survive and new races in Miami and Las Vegas. Part of F1’s Gen-Z wave, he’s on track to join the ranks of household names like Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

His understated personality contrasts with teammate Lando Norris’s playful energy, a dynamic that’s won fans online. Though different—Piastri reserved, Norris outgoing—they click well. “Our feedback on the car and team direction is always aligned,” Piastri says, noting they share plenty of laughs. While they don’t hang out much outside races, their friendship is genuine.

And that car? The lightning-fast McLaren MCL39 has Piastri hooked. “The single fastest car in the world,” he says with quiet enthusiasm. For a driver who thrives on precision, it’s the perfect match.”Right now,” he says with boyish enthusiasm. His love for cars started young—he began karting at age 10—and has never faded. When asked about his main interests, he answers without hesitation: “Cars. Always.”

“If I’m not racing, I’m probably on the simulator at home,” he admits. “I drive GT cars, lower Formula cars, single-seaters—anything. Racing is my hobby, my passion. I don’t have any other major interests yet because racing takes up all that space.”

Still, he makes time to unwind. He enjoys playing padel, the fast-growing racquet sport, and prioritizes spending time with his longtime girlfriend, Lily Zneimer, in Monte Carlo, where they live. “We like day trips or weekend getaways, usually somewhere close to Monaco,” he says. When flying, if he can’t sleep, he’s “catching up on Breaking Bad. I’m a bit late to it—I watched all of Prison Break last year. And I listen to a lot of house and drum and bass music. Not the heavy stuff, though—I draw the line somewhere in the middle of that genre. But those are my go-tos.” His playlist often features fellow Australian artists like Dom Dolla and Fisher.

A recent photo of Piastri arriving at the track in Jeddah made waves in F1 circles—his simple outfit of a plain white tee, khaki shorts, and a schoolboy backpack matched his understated demeanor. “My look is no-frills,” he says, “and not particularly adventurous.” Yet, his casual style has become something of a signature—a non-fashion fashion statement that, as Piastri admits, “has gained a bit of recognition now.”

It’s becoming clear that Piastri’s quiet confidence works both ways: he doesn’t boast about his successes, but he also doesn’t dwell on setbacks. Instead, he focuses on solutions. Take his recent struggles in 2024’s qualifying rounds—he admits they were a weak point. Rather than letting them weigh on him, he worked methodically, discussing adjustments with his team, knowing every small tweak could make a difference. In the end, it’s up to him to find those extra tenths on the track.

Here, the conversation shifts—his calm exterior isn’t the full story. Beneath it lies intense focus. His approach proves that intensity doesn’t have to be loud.

“Maybe you save a hundredth of a second by being a bit fitter,” he explains. “Maybe another by being lighter. Maybe one more by fine-tuning the car’s setup. Individually, those gains seem small. But together? Suddenly, you’re half a tenth quicker—and that could put you on top. Everything matters.”