The Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has revealed significant changes to his training and support team as he prepares for the 2026 season. Following a narrow miss in the 2025 championship, where he finished just 13 points behind his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, Piastri is determined to enhance his performance both on and off the track.
Speaking to news.com.au, the 24-year-old from Melbourne shared insights into his revamped fitness program, a topic often shrouded in secrecy within the F1 community. “My physical fitness is something that I’ve dedicated a lot of time to in recent years,” Piastri stated. “A good pre-season can set you up for the season and put you in a good place ahead of the racing getting underway. It’s not necessarily an achievement, but I’ve enjoyed widening the variety of my training.”
Revamping the Fitness Regimen
Piastri’s commitment to improving his physical condition is evident as he diversifies his training routine. This development follows a challenging 2025 season, where his former performance manager and physiotherapist, Kim Keedle, focused on enhancing Piastri’s cardio fitness.
“Our target was improving Oscar’s cardio base, so we were doing five to six cardio sessions a week,” Keedle told Men’s Health last year. “Most of our cardio sessions are focused on running, because that’s Oscar’s preferred modality, but we mix that up and do other things like swimming or playing squash just to keep it interesting.”
Keedle emphasized the importance of maintaining cardio fitness throughout the season, noting that while driving fitness naturally increases, overall cardio fitness tends to decline. This insight has driven Piastri to “hit cardio hard” early in the year, ensuring he is better prepared for the rigors of the upcoming races.
Changes in the Support Team
In addition to his fitness overhaul, Piastri has made strategic changes to his support team. As he gears up for the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park, he announced the promotion of Pedro Matos, his former mentor, to the role of trackside adviser. This move comes as Mark Webber, the Australian F1 legend who has been a guiding force in Piastri’s career, steps back from his trackside duties.
“It’s only a subtle change. I’ve known Pedro a long time,” Piastri explained. “We worked together in my junior career and had success together. The off-season was as good a time as any to expand. Mark is still very much in my corner. He just won’t be trackside as much anymore.”
Personal and Professional Balance
Piastri’s personal life also plays a crucial role in his career. He expressed excitement about having his girlfriend, Lily Zneimer, accompany him to races. “It’s always great to have Lily around. We spend time together at home in Monaco but it’s also nice to have her at races, especially when we can explore new places together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Piastri’s partnership with the Australian burger chain Grill’d continues to thrive. His signature OP81 burger, which gained popularity in 2025, is set to return with a new addition—a chicken burger. “It’s got to be the introduction of the chicken burger. I think that one is going to prove very popular,” he remarked.
The “Burger Curse” and Public Perception
Last year, a playful conspiracy theory emerged, humorously suggesting that Grill’d’s OP81 burger was responsible for Piastri’s performance slump towards the end of the 2025 championship. The burger, known for its charcoal bun and chipotle sauce, was part of a promotional campaign offering a free burger if Piastri secured a podium finish.
“We’ve seen the tweets, the TikToks, the memes … and yes, we’ve heard the whispers. Apparently, our OP81 Burger is ‘cursed’,” Grill’d responded. “We didn’t mean to create a burger so delicious it could change the course of F1 history. The truth? We didn’t break F1, we just broke the internet.”
Despite the light-hearted speculation, the promotion was a success, with over 330,000 Australians indulging in the OP81 burger. Piastri remains unfazed by the rumors, focusing instead on the upcoming season and his refined approach to racing.
As the 2026 F1 season approaches, Piastri’s changes in fitness and team dynamics signal his readiness to challenge for the championship once again. With a renewed focus on physical conditioning and strategic support, the young driver is poised to make a significant impact on the grid.
