Oscar Piastri, a self-proclaimed cricket enthusiast, has revealed his intention to closely follow The Ashes series, despite the scheduling conflicts with his Formula 1 commitments.
The highly anticipated cricket series between England and Australia is set to commence on Friday at Edgbaston, marking the beginning of a five-match test series during the English summer.
Coming off a successful campaign in the World Test Championship against India, Australia enters The Ashes series with high hopes.
Piastri, while acknowledging the clashes between F1 races and cricket games, expressed his eagerness for Australia to dominate their English rivals.
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“I’m really looking forward to it,” Piastri said of the forthcoming series.
“I’ll try my best to watch it whenever I can.
“Unfortunately, many F1 races coincide with the cricket matches, but I can’t wait to see Australia crush England. It’s going to be exciting.”
Currently in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, Piastri has been diligently preparing for the eighth race of his promising career.
His preparations have included simulator sessions with McLaren and a day of on-track running at the Hungaroring.
Piastri shared a 2021-spec MCL35M car with Alex Palou and Oliver Turvey, with Piastri driving on the first day of the three-day test.
Reflecting on his preparations for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a unique blend of a permanent circuit and a street track, Piastri expressed a sense of normalcy.
Having familiarized himself with the track through F1 video games during his younger days, he eagerly awaits the opportunity to experience it firsthand.
“I feel pretty comfortable, to be honest,” Piastri commented.
“I used to play this track on F1 video games while growing up, so I’m excited to finally drive on it.
“It looks impressive, quite bumpy, a bit dusty, and the weather seems unpredictable.
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“We’ll see how it goes, but I’m really looking forward to hitting the track.”
As rain fell in Montreal on Thursday, weather forecasts predict the possibility of lingering precipitation until at least Sunday morning, with some improvement expected thereafter.
Piastri remains focused and determined to make the most of his time on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, aiming to deliver a strong performance in the Canadian Grand Prix.