An Australian Formula 1 driver named Oscar Piastri
Could be having second thoughts about an somewhat uncomfortable exchange on the podium with Monaco’s Princess Charlene following McLaren teammate Lando Norris narrowing the lead over the Australian in the driver rankings. Even though the FIA implemented a required double-pit stop rule for this year’s event aiming to enhance excitement,
Piastri
was unable to execute any significant maneuvers on the winding roads of Monaco.
Piastri concluded the race at his starting position of third, while Norris and Charles Leclerc maintained their places, crossing the finish line in first and second place respectively.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton
was among the select few drivers who managed to advance from seventh to fifth position.
Although Piastri might have felt disheartened seeing Norris reduce his advantage at the top of the driver’s championship to merely three points, he likely experienced some embarrassment following an uncomfortable incident involving Princess Charlene. The royal family of Monaco was present to hand out awards to the podium finishers, adding to the spectacle typical of this prestigious race on the F1 calendar.
It seemed that Piastri missed the meet-and-greet with Princess Charlene prior to the ceremony, which means he hadn’t previously met the princess until she awarded trophies from the podium. During this event, when Princess Charlene ascended the stage along with Prince Albert to present Leclerc with his second-place trophy, she extended her hand initially towards Piastri as a congratulatory gesture.
Piastri erroneously believed she was presenting him with the second-place trophy and indicated that the trophy should go to Leclerc below. It soon dawned on everyone that she had merely been extending a courteous introduction. His teammate Norris seemed to suggest to Piastri that he may have misunderstood things, prompting an Australian Piastri to cover his face with his hands upon realizing the truth.
Everyone chuckled off the moment as the McLaren drivers grinned following the occurrence. Spectators were equally amused and joined in making light of the embarrassing scene post-Piastri’s initial encounter with Monaco’s royal family. A number of spectators went so far as to claim that the amusing exchange involving Princess Charlene and Piastri stole the show for being the highlight of an otherwise uneventful race day.
Monaco Grand Prix faces criticism following Lando Norris’s victory
During the race, implementing two-stop strategies led to increased frustration rather than excitement, as certain drivers deliberately slowed down to allow teammates ahead to make pitstops without dropping places. The situation escalated into contention when Mercedes’ George Russell harshly criticized Alex Albon via a radio transmission, accusing him of “dangerously slow driving” and “sudden braking.”
Not every driver believed the modifications were essential since they led to increased negative experiences behind the wheel. After the race, Norris was highly critical of the new regulation, calling it an effort to generate “artificial competition.”
He stated, “We haven’t seen much passing happening here lately. I believed that was the objective. Nowadays, winning seems to come down purely to chance—whether you get lucky with a red flag or a safety car intervention. In my view, this doesn’t necessarily lead to a more deserving champion.”
Verstappen expressed similar criticism and went as far as comparing the race to ‘Mario Kart,’ mentioning all the shenanigans involved. He stated, “We were nearly playing Mario Kart,” and added, “I understand the rule change, but I believe it hasn’t been effective. It’s irrelevant how many pit stops occur since racing isn’t possible regardless; one stop, ten stops—it makes no difference. By the final lap, despite leading, my tires were utterly worn out, yet passing remained impossible. We might as well be engaged in Mario Kart. Perhaps we should add features to cars—maybe banana peels would help create slipperier conditions? Who knows?”
The article initially appeared on Yahoo Sports Australia.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/oscar-piastri-captured-in-awkward-moment-with-princess-charlene-after-monaco-grand-prix-020757335.html
