Piastri reveals 'surprising' element from rookie F1 season

Oscar Piastri has admitted surprise over how quickly he adapted tolife as a full-time driver in Formula 1 this year. The Australianspent his rookie campaign with McLaren alongside Lando Norris andscored two podiums during the season. After winning the Formula 2title in 2021, Piastri sat out the 2022 campaign before a battlefor his signature occurred between Alpine and McLaren. With asuccessful junior career underneath him and more than one teaminterested in his services, Piastri felt that there was pressure onhis shoulders to perform. “There was definitely an element ofexpectation, I think for me, mostly from my junior achievements andof course how I came into Formula 1 as well,” Piastri said in aninterview with F1 . “So I tried to not think about it and tried todo the best job I could, just focus on driving. Obviously, withoutracing last year, it made life a bit more difficult at the start.“I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I found myself gettingback up to speed in racing situations. “But definitely there was anelement of expectation. But I always like to think that I've putthe most expectation on myself, so everything else is kind of justsecondary.” Piastri's winter plans With the winter break now inplay after the season ended in Abu Dhabi last month, Piastri statedhe is using the time off to relax after a hectic season. “So muchof our lives as drivers are spent at the track, in the simulator,doing partner activities, doing interviews, there’s not much time.“I think this year, I've really tried to focus on making sure Istarted off my F1 career on the right foot and not have anydistractions. “So Oscar away from the track at the moment is quitelazy, just recharging. “Sleeping in your own bed, seeing friends,seeing my girlfriend, just the sort of simple things in life thatyou actually don't really get to do because we've travelled somuch.”