- McLaren star to take part in second Australian GP
- Lended his voice to a unique campaign to promote the event
- Fans think this could be the start of a successful side business
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Melbourne commuters have noticed the highly unusual way in which Australian McLaren star Oscar Piastri is promoting this week’s Australian F1 Grand Prix.
Piastri, originally from Melbourne, returns for his second Australian GP with McLaren and will compete with compatriot Daniel Ricciardo for Australia’s bragging rights at Albert Park.
In the meantime, he appears to have lent his voice to Melbourne’s public transport system, with a video surfacing of the 22-year-old appearing to make a tram announcement.
The message informs commuters of the frequency of trams to Southern Cross station, which is a public transport hub in Melbourne’s CBD.
Piastri quickly became a fan favorite in his hometown of Melbourne after making his F1 debut for McLaren in 2023.
Piastri and his girlfriend Lily Zneimer are pictured in Baku as he received the FIA Rookie of the Year trophy last December
Australian F1 fans were left in awe after watching the clip.
“He should be narrating documentaries about Australian wildlife or something when he retires. He’d be like an Australian Attenborough with those involuntary ASMR vibes,” one posted, referring to the star’s voice triggering an autonomous sensory meridian response – a pleasant sensation associated with hearing a voice soothing.
“Australian documentaries need to be more like Russell Coight, leave (Americans) wondering if this is actually true,” added another.
“His overall voice and calm demeanor is actually perfect for these kinds of announcements,” a third wrote.
The video was originally posted to TikTok by a user who regularly uploads unique versions of F1 drivers, including Australians Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.
After winning his first F1 points in Melbourne last year, Piastri is hoping to go one better this time around and aim for a podium finish.
Others questioned why he would take on the extra role in the run-up to the Australian F1 Grand Prix.
“I thought he would be paid well enough that he wouldn’t need a side hustle,” one fan posted.
“It’s a side hustle, but it’s also just doing something cool for your city,” replied another.
“Every athlete needs a fallback/retirement plan!” I always knew Oscar had a good head on his shoulders, he was just planning for the future,” another fan wrote.
Piastri (pictured opposite Fernando Alonso at the Saudi Grand Prix) has 16 points after two races, with his best effort a fourth place in Jeddah.
Piastri will be hoping to put in a better performance than last year when he takes to the Albert Park circuit, starting with Friday’s free practice.
Last year, McLaren drivers had one hand tied behind their backs due to their car’s lack of pace, and Piastri and teammate Lando Norris were nowhere on the podium.
However, Piastri earned his first F1 points in Melbourne last year and will be hoping to target a possible podium this time around after collecting 16 points in the first two races of the season.
He finished eighth in Bahrain, but improved significantly to finish fourth in Saudi Arabia, beating Norris, who was four places behind.