Oscar Piastri might just be the coolest Formula 1 driver there has ever been.
The Australian exudes a sense of calmness that seems to permeate his entire being.
He doesn’t criticise his rivals. He doesn’t shout on the team radio. He doesn’t really do controversy.
This quality has been notable since he made his debut in F1, just over two years ago. Now, seven races into a season that he could end by achieving his life’s dream at the age of 24, it is proving to be one of his killer strengths as he navigates his first title campaign.
Piastri says this “comes quite naturally”, but as in many cases in elite sport, it’s the work that’s done to hone the talent that makes the difference.
“Whether that’s from my genes, I don’t know,” Piastri says. “But there is a lot of conscious effort on maintaining that. Maybe it comes a bit more naturally, but (it’s) trying to sit in that nice zone where you can be calm and know what works for you.
“I’m still a human and I still have emotions, so I still have to control it. And that is a strength of mine.
“Ninety-nine per cent of the time I’m probably as calm as it looks. There’s definitely moments in the car where it puts my emotions to the test. But it kind of goes back to the work you do, kind of putting things in perspective.”