Piastri shared his winter break plans in Formula 1

Oscar Piastri has announced his intention to leave Formula 1 for a period during the winter break to regain strength after a disappointing defeat in the title fight.

The McLaren driver has led the overall standings for most of the 2025 season and had a comfortable 34-point lead after the summer break and looked like the biggest favorite to win his first title.

However, a series of unsuccessful performances in the last quarter of the championship allowed teammate Lando Norris to close the gap and take the lead. Despite late pressure from Max Verstappen, Norris eventually won the title while Piastri fell to third place.

After the end of the season, the Australian confirmed that he would return to his hometown to spend time with his loved ones.

“It’s nice to have a summer holiday again. I’m going to go to Australia for a while, see my family and friends and say hello and goodbye as always.

To be honest, I’m really looking forward to taking a break from racing. The season was long and tiring.

As fun as it is to drive the world’s fastest cars, it’s always good to take a break once in a while. So I don’t want to think about competing and I want to spend time with my loved ones.”

Due to the introduction of new technical regulations in 2026, Formula 1 has approved an extended pre-season testing program that will make the winter break shorter than usual.

This is why Piastri emphasizes the importance of proper rest.

“The new season is just around the corner. It is important that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and then return refreshed and ready to face new challenges.”