Piastri Using The Grosjean Touch

When Oscar Piastri launches his FIA Formula 1 assault he will have one of Romain Grosjean’s former lieutenants in his camp.

Kim Keedle, who trained Grosjean during his time with the Haas grand prix team, is now looking after Piastri.

The pair spend a full week training together in Melbourne during January, with two intense sessions every day, to help prepare the youngster for the next challenge in his single-seater career.

They were able to resume their relationship ahead of the official F2 test in Bahrain when Keedle was drafted-in by Alpine for a pre-season training camp in Tenerife when the regular fitness guru could not attend because of Covid travel restrictions.

Piastri was only sixth in the Bahrain running with the crack Prema team that took him to the FIA Formula 3 crown last year, but his more experienced Russian team mate Robert Shwartzman was only fourth and only two-tenths quicker.

According to Prema, there was a full program for the test that included qualifying and race simulations, practice starts and pitstops.

Piastri and Shwartzman were also focussed on learning the characteristics of a new harder-compound tyre that will be used in 2021.

“The test went quite well,” said Piastri.

“Qualifying performance wasn’t bad, and the potential is there, we still have to improve a few things. we got really close to our limit and to putting everything together, and we know where to work.

“I was generally satisfied with my performance in the race simulations, although the new hard tyres are much more complicated than the old ones. We have less grip, and degradation is more difficult to control.

“Anyway, I’m looking forward to the season. I will line up with a fresh head, positive energy to try to be on top right from the start.”