When Oscar Piastri crossed the finish line at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2025, the world saw a young man who had just claimed his third Formula 1 victory—and his first ever from pole. But for those who’ve followed his journey closely, that moment was more than just a win. It was the culmination of years of dedication, not just on real racetracks, but also behind the screen.
I still remember stumbling across his name during a random iRacing session. The lobby was buzzing: “Is that the real Oscar Piastri?” someone typed in chat. It was.
In Youtube, we have 20-minute masterclass in racecraft—smooth, precise, and ruthless when it mattered.
Oscar Piastri’s rise through the motorsport ranks has been nothing short of meteoric—Formula 3 Champion, Formula 2 Champion, and then a well-earned seat with McLaren in Formula 1. But what many people overlook is how simracing quietly shaped him into the driver he is today.
A New Kind of Drive Model
Piastri represents the same pattern in motorsport like Max Verstappen—a hybrid racer who embraces technology, who isn’t afraid to blur the lines between esports and real racing. His story isn’t just inspiring to fans of F1, but to every kid out there racing in their bedroom, dreaming of something bigger.
Because Oscar Piastri proves it’s possible.
He’s not just the guy who won in China. He’s the guy who logged hours on iRacing, who stayed humble in lobbies filled with fans and future talents, and who showed the world that sim racing can be a powerful tool on the road to F1.
Sure, his journey did begin in karting at the age of 9 — like many others — but his story also highlights how virtual racing can sharpen real-world skills and help young drivers stand out.
Sometimes, the grind starts with a steering wheel clamped to a desk.
Sim Racing Setup
Interestingly, there is only one known photo of Oscar Piastri using a simulator, taken during his participation in the ARG eSports Cup back in 2020.
This time, we can’t give you as much detail about the components as we do with other drivers. Instead, we’re sharing updated Fanatec components based on what we can see in the photo.
- Racing Wheel: Clubsport Racing Wheel F1
- Base: Clubsport Racing Wheel F1
Despite his active involvement in platforms like iRacing, Piastri has kept a low profile when it comes to visual content related to his virtual training—making that single photo a rare gem for fans who follow both his professional racing career and his connection to the simracing world.
Other drivers simulators:
- Lando Norris
- Charles Leclerc
- George Rusell
- Carlos Sainz
- Checo Perez
- Fernando Alonso
- Antonio Giovinazzi
- Max Verstappen
Happy Racing!
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You say Oscar Piastri proves you don’t need to start in karting to go on to f1 but piastri started karting when he was 9 years old.
fixed with our interview when he raced the CIK FIA
Oscar uses VRS DFP wheelbase