Oscar Piastri, the promising Formula 1 driver for McLaren, recently made headlines—not for his high-speed maneuvers on the racetrack, but for his less-than-stellar attempts at farming. The young Aussie swapped the adrenaline of racing for the tranquility of Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm during the current two-week F1 break leading up to the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
During his visit, Piastri and Clarkson, accompanied by Clarkson's farm assistant Kaleb Cooper, became the subject of humorous social media exchanges. The trio shared snapshots and videos capturing the lighthearted antics around farming tasks. The most memorable moment, perhaps, was Piastri's struggle with reversing a tractor—a skill one might not expect from a man accustomed to maneuvering high-performance racing cars.
Clarkson, known for his sharp wit, expertly chronicled the ordeal on X (formerly Twitter). He recorded himself standing behind Piastri as he attempted to back up the tractor and trailer, quipping, "How long has he been doing it? About 40 minutes. I thought you said he was a driver?" Kaleb Cooper chimed in, laughing at the driver’s growing frustration. Clarkson added humorously, "Your tractor is going to run out of diesel before he finishes. Come on, Oscar! No... he's c**ed it up!"
Even Piastri's mom got in on the fun, teasing her son about the experience. She posted on social media, saying, "Clarkson’s Farm is grandad’s favorite show Osc. He will be so excited to watch this ep!! (we just won’t tell him about your trailer-backing skills - or lack thereof)." This playful ribbing from family and friends seems to have added to the embarrassment of his mishap.
Piastri, at just 23, has already proven himself on the F1 track with notable wins at two Grands Prix—one each at Hungary and Azerbaijan. Yet this latest adventure at Clarkson's farm provided a stark reminder of the vast differences between his usual high-speed setting and the quaint tasks of rural life.
Clarkson’s farm, made famous through his BBC series Clarkson's Farm*, has garnered attention not only for its quirky productions but has also become something of a tourist attraction, boosting local economies and the spinning of the tourism wheel around West Oxfordshire. Recently, it has been announced the fourth season of the hit show is underway, following the success of its predecessors.
Fans of Piastri and Clarkson alike are already speculating about how this funny episode might play out when it airs on the show. It’s moments like these—where high-profile drivers and beloved television personalities collide—that remind us of the humor and relatability even within the realms of elite sport. It’s not every day one sees someone so accomplished struggle with such basic tasks.
Despite the heavy focus on the upcoming Las Vegas race, the enthusiastic reception of Piastri at the farm has offered fans something refreshing: to see their idols engage with everyday life. Although reversing tractors might not be part of his F1 training, this experience injects some lightheartedness before the high stakes of racing return. Fans can only hope Piastri’s farming experience has brought him goodwill and maybe even some skill—if there’s time before the next race.
