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Oscar Piastri

Piastri dismisses jet lag concerns: 'Driving at 350kph will keep you awake'

The Las Vegas Grand Prix poses a challenge as the late session times added to jet lag may result in fatigue across the grid - however, Oscar Piastri states the track layout will keep the drivers alert.

Piastri Norris Las Vegas
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Oscar Piastri has no concerns regarding jet lag in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as "driving an F1 car at 350 km/h between walls" will keep him awake.

The Las Vegas Strip Circuit hosts the 21st round of the season as F1 arrives at the Nevada city for the first time in over 40 years, with all of the sessions being held at least six hours after sunset.

It is effectively a race on a Japanese schedule being held in the United States, with teams and drivers having to adjust to the timezone differences, jet lag and body clocks being disrupted.


The situation has seen comparisons drawn to Singapore, where the sessions are also held late in the evening but where the paddock stays on European time, a point Piastri himself made.

'Driving at 350 km/h keeps you awake'

"I think for me, the biggest difference is that in Singapore, you just stay on European time," the McLaren driver told media including RacingNews365.

"So you kind of just give in to the jet lag you normally try and fight, whereas here, compared to Europe we're eight or nine hours behind, but we've got to try and adjust eight or nine hours forwards.

"It's like a double whammy. Going from here to Abu Dhabi is going to be another interesting experience, maybe it is something they can look into for next year."

Amid the challenge, Piastri has clarified that he expects all drivers to be alert when the adrenaline of tackling the circuit kicks in.

"I'm sure it'll be easier when that time comes," he said. "We'll have a couple more days to get used to it.

"Driving an F1 car at 350 kph between walls usually keeps you awake pretty well. I'm sure that'll help.

"It's definitely put a lot of people's sleep schedules and jet lag management to the test, so hopefully, it's all right when we have to drive."

F1 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix RN365 News dossier

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