Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri became famous before his first F1 race for tweeting that he had not signed with Alpine — a tweet that became a landmark moment in F1 contract history. Since arriving on the grid he has demonstrated remarkable pace and an even more remarkable capacity for deadpan humour.
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When Alpine announced in August 2022 that Piastri would drive for them in 2023, he responded on Twitter: 'I will not be driving for Alpine next year. This is wrong.' The tweet was precise, unapologetic, and completely true — he had already signed with McLaren. The Contract Recognition Board subsequently awarded his contract to McLaren. The tweet became famous as an example of minimal, perfectly calibrated communication in a situation that could have been handled with much more drama.
Piastri grew up gaming and continues to play regularly. He is not as publicly prominent in the streaming world as some of his contemporaries, but gaming features regularly in his personal life and he has participated in various F1 gaming events. His taste in games extends beyond racing simulations.
Piastri's comedy timing is notable for someone still in the early years of his F1 career. He delivers observations with a completely straight face and minimal elaboration — a style that plays well in written form and in video clips. Australian dryness applied to the often self-serious world of F1 has made him popular well beyond Australian fans.
Like most racing drivers who reach F1, Piastri had to relocate to Europe in his teenage years to compete in the junior categories. He left Melbourne and spent formative years in the UK and Europe away from family. He has spoken about this transition and the support of his family — particularly his parents — in making it work.
Piastri is a Melbourne Demons supporter, following Australian rules football from Monaco via streaming services. The cultural connection to home through sport is something he maintains deliberately. He has attended AFL events when in Australia and uses the sport as a way of staying connected to Melbourne while living and racing in Europe.
The inevitable Daniel Ricciardo comparisons that greet every Australian driver in F1 have produced in Piastri a quiet determination to be distinctly himself — less performance, more precision. Where Ricciardo is broad and warm, Piastri is specific and dry. Observers who know both have noted that they are substantially different people, which is good for F1's diversity of character.