Piastri swaps F1 for V8 Supercars in Australian homecoming

Oscar Piastri took a break from his Formula 1 duties to drive a V8 Supercar in Australia, reconnecting with the racing series he grew up watching. The McLaren driver, fresh from a podium finish in Japan, enjoyed the unique challenge of piloting Cam Waters' Ford Mustang, marking his first time driving a tin-top race car.

Why it matters:

For Piastri, driving a V8 Supercar was more than just a fun track day; it was a nod to his roots and the domestic racing scene that shaped his early interest in motorsport. This off-track experience highlights the driver's down-to-earth personality and connection to his home fanbase, even as he competes at the pinnacle of global racing.

The details:

• Piastri joined 18-time Supercars race winner Cam Waters for the track day in Australia, admitting he had "no idea how the car works or where the track goes" at first.
• He revealed he watched V8 Supercars more than F1 as a child due to the more favorable time zone, often attending drag races with his father.
• After initial cautious laps, he was encouraged to be more aggressive and was seen happily taking curbs in the Ford Mustang, calling it "good fun" and his first time driving a race car with a roof.
• The outing came after a turnaround in his F1 season, securing a strong second-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix following a shaky start with a crash in Australia and an electrical issue in China.

What's next:

Piastri returns his focus to the F1 championship, where he and McLaren aim to build on their Suzuka performance. He acknowledged the team still has "a long way to go" regarding both performance and reliability, but believes they have shown they can "cause a few headaches" for their rivals when everything clicks. His brief Supercars adventure serves as a morale-boosting reminder of his journey and the diverse skills that define a modern racing driver.