The Quiet Strength Behind Oscar Piastri’s Ascent: Unpacking His Relationship with Lily Zneimer
Formula 1’s newest sensation, Oscar Piastri, is rapidly becoming a household name, thanks in no small part to his electrifying performances and his prominent feature in the popular Netflix docuseries, Drive to Survive. While his professional life is under intense scrutiny, the 24-year-old Australian driver has managed to keep his personal life remarkably private. Central to this quiet personal sphere is his long-term girlfriend, Lily Zneimer, with whom he has been in a relationship since they were just 17 years old.
Unlike many public figures who frequently share their lives online, Piastri and Zneimer maintain a low profile, opting to keep their relationship largely away from the public eye and social media. This deliberate choice allows them a sense of normalcy amidst the whirlwind of international motorsport.
Who is Lily Zneimer?
Lily Zneimer is a British engineer who met Oscar Piastri during their formative years at the Haileybury co-educational boarding school in Hertford Heath, UK. Their connection blossomed during their second-to-last year of school, marking the beginning of a relationship that has endured through Piastri’s meteoric rise in the racing world.
“Well, I met my girlfriend at school,” Piastri revealed in a 2024 interview on the Eff Won with DRS podcast. “The second last year of school, we became a couple, and we’ve been together since, so it’s been nice to have someone there from the start still with me.”
The stability of their relationship has been a cornerstone for Piastri as his career has taken off. In a July 2025 interview with The Telegraph, he emphasised the comfort this provided: “Lily has been there from the start, from single-seaters to Formula One. A constant in what is quite a manic world.”
The couple made their relationship Instagram official in 2022, and Zneimer is a familiar, albeit understated, presence trackside, often seen with her laptop, suggesting a keen interest and perhaps even involvement in the technical aspects of the sport.
F1 photographer Kym Illman provided further insight in a 2023 TikTok video. He recounted meeting Lily in 2022 at the Australian Grand Prix, where Piastri was serving as an Alpine reserve driver. “Oscar introduced me to the British student in the paddock at the 2022 Australian GP when he was the Alpin reserve driver,” Illman stated. He described her as “British, polite, quiet, classy, and by the time you watch this, has probably graduated with a degree in engineering.”
Illman later shared with The Sun that Zneimer harbours ambitions of her own within the racing industry. “She wants to get a job in F1, and with her contacts, you’d have to say she rates a pretty strong chance,” he commented, adding, “They are a delightful couple.”
Inside Oscar Piastri and Lily Zneimer’s Private World
Despite the public nature of Piastri’s career, he and Zneimer consciously choose to keep their relationship private, though not in a way that suggests secrecy. “We keep it private, [but] not secretive like some relationships are,” Piastri explained to Dax Shepard. “We keep it to ourselves and try to be out of the spotlight and just live normal lives.”
This commitment to privacy doesn’t mean Zneimer isn’t a supportive presence at key moments. In 2022, she accompanied Piastri to the Autosport Awards, where he received the Rookie of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Later that same year, she was present for his first F1 drive as a backup for BWT Alpine F1. Piastri expressed his joy at the time, noting, “Having my girlfriend Lily here for the first time and attending my maiden Grand Prix in Melbourne with my pals makes me very pleased.”
During a promotional video for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Piastri appeared alongside Zneimer, highlighting the special nature of sharing his hometown with his partner. “I’ve really enjoyed coming back here when I can, and to be able to share that with my partner as well is very special,” he shared in the clip. “It’s been nice to have her here this time and relax a little bit, have a bit of downtime, and show her some of the sights of Melbourne.”
A particularly poignant moment for their relationship came in July 2024, when Piastri secured his maiden F1 race victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. In his ecstatic post-race interview, he took a moment to acknowledge Zneimer: “Hi, Lily, I’m sure you’re watching. I will see you soon. Thanks. This is for everyone, this isn’t just for me.” This public display of affection, though brief, underscored the deep personal significance of his achievements and the constant support he receives.
