McLaren F1 star Oscar Piastri reveals UNUSUAL priorities for winter break

Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Qatar, 2023 — Photo: © LAT Images

F1 Off The Track

F1 star reveals UNUSUAL priorities for winter break

The preparations are well underway for the 2024 F1 season

By Matthew Hobkinson.

Tuesday 23 January 2024 19:57

Oscar Piastri has admitted that his main priority for the F1 winter break is simply to catch up on the sleep he missed during a hectic season.

The Australian's rookie season was one of the best in a number of years, with McLaren's mid-season upgrades catapulting him and team-mate Lando Norris right up the field.

Piastri finished the year with 97 points to his name, the second highest total achieved in a maiden season since Lewis Hamilton's 109-point haul in 2007 – albeit under different scoring systems.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old proved himself to be a rookie in name but not in nature last year.

Oscar Piastri was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2023

Lando Norris (L) and Piastri (Centre R) gave McLaren plenty to celebrate last year

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And the McLaren driver has now offered a bit more of a glimpse into his time away from the track, after he revealed that sleeping is top of his list in things to do when not racing or training.

Piastri: Sleep number one priority

“A little bit of a mix," he told F1.com when asked how he spends his free time.

"I mean firstly just catching up on sleep is like the number one priority. The time off I have is not more than two or three days at a time.

"So there’s always an element of training in there at some point and just trying to stay in that routine.

Piastri will be hoping to improve on last year during the 2024 F1 season

"It’s nice seeing my girlfriend when I have the chance – that’s an important one.

"There’s some gaming as well and I have a simulator at home. I like playing video games as well so some of that. I also have friends around, sometimes I do stuff with them.

"But yeah, a lot of time with my girlfriend going for walks with her, dinner or whatever. Just spending some quality time.”

Lewis Hamilton McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri