"I'd lock myself in": The bonkers way McLaren F1 ace Oscar Piastri trained to beat the heat at the 2023 Singapore GP

When Australian F1 star Oscar Piastri made his Singapore F1 debut in practice on Friday, it wasn’t just the first time the McLaren driver had driven the circuit, but also the first time he had ever stepped foot in the country.

And with temperatures hovering at around 30 degrees celsius, and the track temps even higher again, the Aussie driver says he took extreme steps to prepare himself for the heat.

The conditions make Singapore one of F1’s most gruelling races, with tyre maker Pirelli suggesting drivers can lose as much as three kilograms through sweat during the race.

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And with weight such a critical factor, drivers are given just 500mls of water to last the two-hour GP.

In trying to match Singapore’s muggy and humid conditions, Piastri says he transformed his bathroom into a tropical sauna to prepare.

“There’s a university near where I live with a heat chamber, but it’s only open during the week,” he says. “So on the weekends I’d put an exercise bike in my bathroom, bring in a portable heater, and lock myself in there to sweat my way through the afternoon.

“My record is 34 degrees (celsius) in my bathroom, and with the shower running it’s not very comfortable, but it’s all in preparation for (Singapore.).

“That’s the lengths we go to."

The Australian driver will be hoping for a strong showing in Singapore, continuing a rookie season that he modestly describes as “pretty good”.

“There has been some highs, definitely,” he says. “Silverstone and Spa were two very special weekends.

“There have been some lows as well. The start of the season was very tough for us but since we’ve put some upgrades on the car it has really tuned things around.”