Oscar Piastri is the big loser of this year’s Formula 1 season: How the Australian plans to recover during the winter break and what he has planned for the holidays
The 2025 Formula 1 season was long, and all the drivers are looking forward to relaxing with their families and friends. However, hardly anyone needs the winter break as much as Oscar Piastri. The McLaren driver had to watch as his teammate Lando Norris snatched the world championship title from his grasp.
“I’ll be going back to Australia for a while, of course, to see my family and friends and do my annual ‘hellos’ and ‘goodbyes,’” Piastri revealed after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. “But to be honest, I’m just looking forward to taking a break from racing for a while.”
The Australian had made an impressive start to the season and was comfortably leading the overall standings at the midpoint of the year. However, several mistakes in the second half of the season cost him crucial points, while Norris secured several victories and clinched the world championship title. Piastri was left with only third place overall.
“Enjoying the free time while you have it”
“It was obviously a long season, a demanding season, and as much fun as it is to drive the fastest cars in the world, a break in between is always a good thing,” admits the 24-year-old after a total of 24 races in the past season.
“So I’m looking forward to spending some time without thinking about race cars and spending time with the people around me. And then, of course, the new season won’t be far away.” In fact, the first test drives will begin on January 26, 2026.
“We all have a huge challenge ahead of us next year, so it will be important to enjoy the free time while you have it and then come back as refreshed as possible to tackle the new challenges,” Piastri emphasizes.
What distinguishes Formula 1 from junior series
The winter break should also help the McLaren driver come to terms with his bitter World Championship defeat. However, pressure situations in title fights are by no means new territory for Piastri: in 2020, he secured the championship title in Formula 3, and a year later he also triumphed in Formula 2.
“I think there are definitely parallels,” says the Australian. “The emotions you feel are basically very similar. The difference to Formula 1, however, is that the longest junior championship I’ve raced in had ten race weekends. This one was two and a half times as long.”
“The sheer length of time you have to endure it all is significantly greater.” The Formula 2 season in which Piastri secured the title comprised just eight race weekends, each with two races. “That aspect is very different.”
Winning titles in the junior series is secondary
Added to this are changed objectives. “In the junior categories, you naturally want to win the championship, but at the same time you try above all to show why you belong in Formula 1,” recalls the former Formula 2 champion.
“And we’ve seen over the years that you don’t necessarily have to win championships to prove your abilities for Formula 1,” says Piastri, referring in particular to Max Verstappen, who moved straight from Formula 3 to the premier class without having won a title beforehand.
“However, once you’re in Formula 1, there’s nothing greater than becoming world champion there,” admits the McLaren driver. Unlike in the junior classes, this success has so far eluded him. “So in that respect, it’s different, but there are definitely similarities too.”
