Formula 1 is a sport in which uncertainty always looms large over the rookie drivers. Just look at Nyck de Vries, for example. One day, you get a full-time seat, and the other, you are out of that seat. However, another rookie on the 2023 grid was Oscar Piastri, who managed to pull off a stellar debut season with McLaren. What sets Piastri apart, however, is not just his ability on the racetrack but his thoughtful consideration of life outside the cockpit.

The Australian driver, initially set to join Alpine, found himself at McLaren amidst a legal dispute between the two teams. The decision didn’t come without its share of scrutiny and high expectations, but Piastri delivered exceptional performances, scoring points in 11 races and securing 2 podium finishes. His standout moment came in the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, where he clinched victory in the Sprint Race. But what would have happened if he met the same fate as de Vries?

Oscar Piastri’s alternate career if his time at McLaren was short-lived

Reflecting on his debut season with McLaren, Piastri recently opened up about the challenges he faced, describing it as a “brutal” initiation into the elite ranks of Formula 1. Despite the challenges, The Australian expressed his commitment to McLaren’s resurgence, emphasizing the team’s desire to reclaim its position at the forefront of Formula 1. The significance of his contributions was duly recognized, as McLaren extended its trust in him, securing his services until the end of the 2026 F1 season.

In a recent conversation on Dax Shepard’s eff won podcast, the focus shifted from the racetrack to the classroom. Shepard, inquiring about Piastri’s time in the UK, discovered a unique facet of the driver’s journey. “Been there since going to school, finished school in the UK,” Piastri revealed. Curious about Piastri’s academic pursuits, the podcast host asked if he had earned a degree.

“Well, I don’t have a degree, but I finished high school,” Piastri replied, showcasing a blend of humility and pride. Dax, with a touch of humor, noted the difference in educational systems, saying, “Got you, here you get a degree for that. It’s not useful, but you get a high school diploma.” Piastri acknowledged the value of his decision, considering motorsport’s cut-throat nature, especially Formula 1.

“There you go, ‘Yeah, I finished high school and passed and got decent grades.’ So yeah, proud of myself for that one.” When asked if he was wasting his time since he knew he would be an F1 driver, Oscar said, “There were moments where I thought, ‘Yeah, I think in hindsight, it was a very smart decision.’ I went to a boarding school for four years, so A, I got a place to live, which is always very handy, and B, also going to a new country helped me integrate into the community, get some friends.”

“I think the word of motorsport it’s extremely cut-throat. In F1, it’s just 20 of us in the whole world. And there’s probably thousands of us that try to make it. Having a backup plan is always very useful, so yeah. I am glad that I didn’t need to use the backup plan, but it was a very smart move,” the Aussie concluded.

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Beyond his Sprint win in Qatar and podium finishes, Oscar Piastri came tantalizingly close to etching his name in F1 history by challenging a record held for 16 years.

Piastri came close to beating Lewis Hamilton’s record

In 2007, Lewis Hamilton, in his inaugural season with McLaren, set an impressive benchmark by scoring 109 points, a record for a rookie. Hamilton’s stellar performance included 12 podiums in 17 races, narrowly missing the championship title to Kimi Raikkonen by a single point. Fast forward to 2023, and Piastri emerged as the only driver who came within striking distance of this remarkable milestone.

Piastri’s debut season had its fair share of challenges, marked by a rocky start with a DNF in his first race, where he was running eighth. However, the turning point came after the 2023 F1 British Grand Prix when McLaren implemented significant changes to its car, resulting in a notable performance improvement.

From that moment onward, Piastri consistently scored points in nearly every race until the season’s conclusion. The Aussie’s total of 97 points in his rookie season secured the second-highest tally for a rookie in F1 history, coming remarkably close to Hamilton’s long-standing record.

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What do you think of Oscar Piastri’s rookie season? Can he use his rookie season experience to take the fight to Lando Norris in 2024? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.