Jeremy Clarkson, known for his love of Formula 1 racing and his celebrity status, extended an interesting offer to F1 2025 drivers following the revelations of his unconventional coaching techniques. This proposition came after Oscar Piastri, the rising star of McLaren, attributed his miraculous save at the Australian Grand Prix to Clarkson’s coaching.
The race was not going smoothly for Piastri as he and fellow McLaren driver Lando Norris found themselves veering off the track during a particularly slippery lap 44. Although Norris managed to recover and clinch the win, Piastri was less fortunate. He ended up stuck on the grass at the penultimate corner, which saw him falling to the back of the pack.
Despite this setback, the 23-year-old made a commendable comeback. He successfully engaged reverse gear, aided by a timely Safety Car, and managed to climb back to the ninth position, even overtaking Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. This successful recovery was largely due to his ability to maneuver his car in reverse, a skill he humorously credited to Jeremy Clarkson.
Clarkson had previously posted a video on social media of Piastri visiting his Diddly Squat farm. The clip hilariously showcased Piastri’s struggles while trying to reverse a tractor into a barn, a task that took him a good 40 minutes to complete. Kaleb Cooper, Clarkson’s co-star, couldn’t resist poking fun at the F1 driver, quipping about his driving skills.
In hindsight, Piastri admitted his attempt to push too hard led to his mishap during the race. He found it challenging to judge the slippery conditions of the track, which caused him to lose control and end up on the grass. However, he was quick to take responsibility for the incident and showed a positive attitude towards the entire ordeal. He humorously mentioned how his off-season training in reversing a tractor on Clarkson’s farm came in handy on the racing track.
Clarkson, amused by Piastri’s comments, took to social media to offer his unconventional coaching to other F1 drivers. He jokingly invited them for a crash course in reversing, mentioning how it seemed to have benefitted Piastri.
Reversing an F1 car is not an easy task due to the complicated and delicate nature of the gear system. The reverse gear is designed to be smaller and lighter for infrequent use, and activating it requires intricate command sequences on the steering wheel. This explains why drivers prefer to perform a spin-turn, a quicker maneuver than reversing, whenever space permits.
Despite his race mishap, Piastri remains optimistic. His near miss at the pole position and his impressive pressure on Norris in the wet conditions show his promising potential as an F1 driver. He expressed satisfaction with his overall performance and resilience, proving that one mistake doesn’t overshadow his prowess on the track.
Piastri also touched on the controversial team orders that indirectly led to his mishap. He referred to it as a minor moment in the race but promised to discuss it with the team for better understanding and improvement. Despite the extreme circumstances of the race, Piastri’s performance and resilience were admirable, proving his worth as an upcoming star in the F1 2025 series.
