Oscar Piastri speaks of “relief” after the CRB verdict

After a summer full of twists and turns, Oscar piastri returned for the first time to the media storm he has gone through in recent weeks, and in particular to the confrontation before the CRB ("Contract Recognition Board", the independent body of the FIA ​​responsible for certifying the validity of signed contracts between drivers and teams) between Alpine et McLaren. If it was ultimately the Woking team which had the last word in this affair, the Australian driver was somewhat discreet despite his arrival in F1 more and more imminent.

“In F1, what we did before is very quickly forgotten”

In the podcast In The Fast Line, the Australian prodigy – winner in quick succession of the championships F3 (2020) et F2 (2021) – returned at length to the affair of the contracts between a team which has long supported it, Alpine, and another, McLaren, ready to give him his chance faster than he would have thought. But he also tried to look forward to a 2023 season which will see him make his debut in F1, while having a word for the man he replaces, his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo.

“It was a relief, it was of course quite a stressful time before the CRB hearing, and then a feeling of happiness, he mentions. I've been working towards this moment since I started racing 11, 12 years ago, so to finally know what my future holds, first of all, in F1 as well, was a relief. It's a success, but it's almost like starting from scratch.

ALSO READ: What is Guanyu Zhou's F1 debut with Alfa Romeo worth?

Everything I have done so far in my career has been preparation for this moment. I thought a little about the journey I took to get here. Basically, now is the real beginning of the adventure. That's what I wanted: to become a professional. When I started, I wanted to be professional in any motorsport discipline, to be able to race and earn a living. But being able to do it in F1, it's difficult to find a better job. I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to what's next because I want to make sure that this stays my job for a while. »

For the history books, we will remember that Oscar Piastri is the only driver to have consecutively won Formula titles Renault, F3 and F2. All in just three years, obviously. But as his debut in F1 draws ever closer, there is no longer any question for the Australian driver of thinking about his past successes.

“I think you can look at things in two different ways. First of all, the success that led me to the opportunity to drive in F1 is one way of looking at things. But at the same time, once you start racing in F1, what you did before is very quickly forgotten. Once you're in F1, what matters is how you can succeed rather than what you've achieved before. I'm happy to have won these titles, and they gave me this opportunity to race in F1. It really is the start of a new adventure and, in a way, a new beginning. But I think I can use the confidence gained in promotional formulas, I deserve to be there. »

The number on his car revealed

What's more, during this podcast, the Australian driver revealed the number he would wear during the 2023 season with McLaren. If the general public discovered it in promotional formulas with sometimes number 1, then number 2 last year, it was a completely different number that attracted their desire and held their attention.

“When I did my first race I had to choose a number and the car store I went to only had number 1s in stock, He explains. It had to be a one or two digit number. I couldn't be number one for obvious reasons, so I was actually number 11 for my first two races.

We signed up, I think it was for the Victorian titles, and someone had already signed up with number 11, so I don't know what inspired me to choose 81 , but I changed the first one to a number 8 and it has remained ever since. »

Oscar Piastri also returned to his arrival at McLaren, which therefore pushes his compatriot, Daniel Ricciardo, out of the team. The ex-pilot Red Bull and Renault has still not found a base, but has shown great class at a time when the two parties were close to an agreement.

“I was planning to call him, but given the timing of things, he was at a Grand Prix… Honestly, I didn't know if he really wanted to hear from me, says Oscar Piastri. I was trying to think of what to say, but he beat me to it. He's a true professional, I've always had a lot of respect for him and the way he reacted only reinforced that. The fact that he made contact like that was great for me, knowing there were no hard feelings. It helped me a lot, it was a great time. If I can come close to the success he has had on the track and the character he is off the track, then I will have done part of the job. »