How Oscar Piastri became the ‘coolest driver in F1 history’

Oscar Piastri isn’t just dominating on the track this year – he’s also done the impossible off it. And it has led to the humble Australian being labelled the ‘coolest driver in F1 history’.

Unafraid to talk publicly about his high chances of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Australia Formula One ace Oscar Piastri really does believe he can win the most prestigious race in world motorsport this weekend.

While most drivers are naturally hesitant about talking up their chances, the unflappable Piastri could hardly have been more candid about his prospects.

Thrown the perennial gotcha question of ‘what are your chances of winning the great race?, Piastri didn’t blink in telling international media: “Reasonable, I would say.

“I think we should have a quick car. It was a successful race for us last year around here so hopefully we can continue that form.

“Obviously the first third of the season has been going very well. I don’t have any reason to think otherwise, so I hope it’s a good one.”

Oscar Piastri has become a media favourite because if his relaxed approach with the press. Picture: Getty

Piastri has every right to feel confident of taking the chequered flag but his matter of fact approach is still refreshing in a sport where drivers are normally guarded about their dreams for fear of jinxing themselves.

Not so Piastri, who finished runner-up on the streets of Monte Carlo 12 months ago and is currently leading this year’s drivers’ championship by 13 points after winning four of the first seven races.

Each of the 24 races on the calendar carries the same number of points but Monaco remains special because it’s the race every driver wants to win.

Piastri is no different but also isn’t overawed by the situation, relaxing before this weekend’s race by taking his girlfriend Lily Zneimer to a private screening of the new film F1, starring Brad Pitt.

On the eve of the first day of practice, the 24-year-old was back holding court on the French Riviera, casually chatting to different media organisations from all the world about this weekend’s race, life, the universe and everything else that was thrown his way.

While some high-profile sporting stars can be prickly with the press, Piastri is a journalist’s dream because he makes himself so accessible on race weekends and always speaks freely.

Oscar Piastri of Australia and his partner Lily Zneimer attended the private screening of the F1 movie in Monaco.

It’s perhaps no wonder then that his relaxed and laid-back manner has already made him a favourite with the fourth estate, with even the notoriously hard-nosed British press smitten with the Aussie after they all got their turn to chat with him in Monaco.

The normally staid BBC was so impressed with the Melburnian’s dealings in his endless media commitments that they went as far as to describe him as “Zen-like.”

“Oscar Piastri might just be the coolest Formula 1 driver there has ever been,” the BBC gushed.

“The Australian exudes a sense of calmness that seems to permeate his entire being.

“He doesn’t criticise his rivals. He doesn’t shout on the team radio. He doesn’t really do controversy.”

Oscar Piastri finished runner-up at Monaco in 2024 – but confidently believes he will go one better this weekend. Picture: Getty

In a typically open-hearted interview with ‘the Beeb’, Piastri explained how his calmness, both behind the wheel and in front of the cameras, was simply who he really is.

“I don’t get bothered that much by kind of all the fanfare that goes on,” Piastri said.

“And I appreciate all the support that I get. But I’m here to drive race cars. I like driving race cars. I like going fast. I like trying to beat other people. That’s what I’m here for.

“I feel like I’m a pretty simple person. And, yeah, my sense of humour is pretty dry, and I don’t give much. But that’s just me being me.

“In this sport, it’s very easy to kind of get lost trying to be something you’re not, and kind of fit to a mould.

“I feel like I can just be myself. And I think with more experience and once you have some good results and you become more comfortable, then you can come out of your shell a bit more. But for me there’s not that much shell. It’s just how I am.”

Oscar Piastri has been racking up the trophies in 2025.

In another interview, this time with F1 website RacingNews365, Piastri spoke at length about the importance of qualifying for Monaco, where the narrow streets make overtaking virtually impossible.

That’s no secret, of course, but Piastri said a new rule introduced this year, whereby cars have to make at least two pit stops for tyre changes, had added a sense of the unknown.

“My head’s still kind of untwisting itself from some of the meetings we’ve had today,” Piastri said.

“I still think 90 something per cent about Monaco is qualifying.

“I think it’s very complicated now with these two stops, also just using three sets of tyres, because if there’s red flags like we saw last year, it’s not quite as simple as what it was.

“So it’s definitely going to throw a spanner in the works for everyone. But I think if you qualify on pole, unless something goes dramatically wrong, it’s still going to be hard to be beaten.”

Oscar Piastri is one cool customer – and he’s delivering on the track.

He’s not alone in thinking that and even Piastri’s rivals have tipped him as the man to beat and not just in Monaco.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen got the better of Piastri in Imola last weekend when he overtook him at the first corner while his was distracted defending against George Russell is a noted admirer.

And Britain’s seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has also been impressed, saying Piastri has the skills and smarts to win this year’s world title.

“He has been doing everything you need to do to win a world championship,” Hamilton said.

“I don’t have any advice for him. Just to keep doing what he’s doing.”

Originally published as How Oscar Piastri became the ‘coolest driver in F1 history’