Oscar Piastri: For me, tire tests are better than nothing.

      Oscar Piastri completed his first day of Pirelli testing at the Nürburgring. In an interview, the Australian McLaren driver summarized his experience, evaluated the tire prototypes for 2027, and answered the question of whether he would like to see the Nürburgring return to the Formula 1 calendar.

      Question: Oscar, you didn't start in Australia and China, having completed fewer laps than the others. How important are these tests for you personally?

      Oscar Piastri: Yes, the tests were useful, but you can still gather more information during a race weekend. Obviously, we are not racing on this track, and under the current regulations, specific preparation is required for each circuit. Of course, you can learn a lot during the tests, but unfortunately, it's not quite the same as a race weekend or a race. Although it's better than nothing.

      Question: Can the team do anything for itself during the Pirelli tests?

      Oscar Piastri: Mainly for us, it's just an opportunity to complete laps and check the systems' functionality. We can't change anything on the car during the Pirelli tests, but even basic things like the operation of all systems and small details, such as seat comfort, can be checked and perfected, so we don't waste time on this during race weekends.

      So these tests are still useful, and for me, it's an additional opportunity to feel the car. We've only had three race weekends, and in my case, just one full race, so any laps in this car are beneficial right now.

      Question: During the tests, you worked with tire prototypes for 2027. Did you feel any differences from the current tires?

      Oscar Piastri: I think so. Some of the tire prototypes feel a bit different. We have many more tests ahead, so I'm sure we'll try different versions throughout the year.

      It's clear that Pirelli is trying to create the best possible product, and some things I tried this morning were interesting.

      Question: The Nürburgring is an old-school track. How do you find driving here?

      Oscar Piastri: It's a great track. I haven't raced here in a long time – the last time was in 2019. It's an old-school track with bumps and specific curbs, especially on corner exits. There's almost no margin for error here – there's grass and gravel everywhere. Some sections are very challenging, and driving a modern Formula 1 car, the track feels quite compact compared to those we usually race on. But it's always great to return to such historic tracks.

      Question: Would you like to see the Nürburgring return to the Formula 1 calendar?

      Oscar Piastri: Of course. I'm not against it. It's not my favorite track, but it's very interesting and unique. There are a lot of elevation changes, and of course, the history of this place is also very important.

      Drivers like old-school tracks despite the different configurations. The characteristic curbs and run-off areas of such tracks always provide more satisfaction from driving when everything goes right. It would be nice, but we'll see.