While the technique of ‘visualisation’ is a common one in terms of sports psychology, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri is clearly not a believer and prefers to be more level-headed and realistic in his approach to F1.
The young driver from Melbourne had an impressive debut season in 2023, clinching victory in a sprint race from pole position and securing podium finishes in two Grand Prix races, with the first one being in Japan.
Piastri remains forward-focused and is determined to achieve his first Grand Prix win, despite acknowledging that he doesn’t typically allow himself to “dare to dream” about such accomplishments becoming a reality.
In an interview with Australian motorsports website Speedcafe following his fourth-place finish in the second round of the season in Saudi Arabia, Piastri emphasized his commitment to concentrating on the upcoming sessions and weekends to maximize his performance.
Piastri expressed his disappointment at not making it to the podium, but he emphasized that he had other ways of assessing his performance during a race weekend.
According to him, it is quite simple to determine whether he had a successful or unsuccessful weekend and if he maximized his potential. Self-evaluation is always possible.
He mentioned, “After every weekend, you always have a clear understanding of whether we did well or not.” He gave an example of the Japanese race where they had the second fastest car, so getting on the podium was the minimum expectation once Perez retired.
He mentioned that it wasn’t among his top three, maybe not even in the top five races of the year, but it turned out to be one of his best results of the season. He added that sometimes the results don’t fully reflect how he feels about the weekend.
Getting a podium finish with the third or fourth fastest car may yield the same result, but the way you accomplish it can vary greatly.
According to Piastri, visualizing race wins and titles is not worth the effort. He emphasized that in Formula 1, success is heavily influenced by both the car and the driver – with the car playing a significant role.
Winning a race or championship is unlikely if you’re in the slowest car on the grid, he emphasized. No matter how much you desire it, the reality is simple.
When questioned about his first race victory or championship title, he admitted, “I rarely allow myself to dream about it.” Dreaming about such things can quickly turn demoralizing instead of motivating.
Piastri clarified that he prefers to focus on what he can control and influence, remaining practical and realistic.
He expressed, “I will derive a greater sense of pride and happiness by directing my attention towards those types of matters.”
If you manage to secure the third position, then by all means, go for it and strive to finish third. However, if it’s evident that your car doesn’t have what it takes to win a race, there’s not much point in dwelling on it.
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