F1 News: Oscar Piastri Details Crucial Advice From Mark Webber For Japanese GP

Ahead of the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, F1 rising star Oscar Piastri revealed the crucial advice he received from his manager, former F1 driver Mark Webber. Webber, who had multiple podiums at Suzuka, specifically told Piastri to "prepare your neck for Sector 1."

Key Takeaways

• Oscar Piastri highlights the importance of neck strength for navigating Sector 1 at Suzuka, a piece of advice directly coming from his manager Mark Webber who has experienced multiple podiums at the track.
• Piastri emphasises the various challenges presented by the Suzuka circuit, including the potentially significant role of wind, especially through high-speed corners.
• Besides neck strength and wind, Piastri also notes the importance of tyre management due to the number of corners where "a lot of energy" is exerted through the tyres.

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During a recent interview, Oscar Piastri was asked about the advice he had received from his manager, Mark Webber, who had seen podium success at Suzuka during his F1 career. Piastri replied: 

"Prepare your neck for Sector 1. That was the first piece of advice and yeah, obviously, there's so many factors here, you know. The wind can play a massive, massive role, especially through the high-speed corners; it’s a long race, a lot of corners where you put a lot of energy through the tyres. So yeah, a lot of factors. But your neck’s probably a big one."

The comment about preparing the neck for Sector 1 of the Suzuka circuit underscores the physical demands of this track. This sector, known for its high-speed corners and complex layout, can be particularly challenging for a driver’s neck due to the high levels of G-force experienced.

In addition to physical preparation, Piastri also touched on the environmental variables at Suzuka, notably the wind. "The wind can play a massive, massive role, especially through the high-speed corners," he mentioned, highlighting how these factors can greatly impact a race.

Another point Piastri made was the importance of tyre management. Suzuka has multiple corners where "a lot of energy" is put through the tyres, necessitating strategic driving to ensure tire longevity and performance throughout the race.