The heated altercation between Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas brought back memories that seem familiar to Oscar Piastri, young star of the Australian racing circuit.
Indeed, a simple shoulder touch from an Indian athlete to a novice triggered in Piastri reminiscences of his daring overtake of Charles Leclerc during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
No stranger to fierce battles, the Australian driver's “courageous” move paved the way for his first F1 victory, while laying the foundations for the rest of his season.
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Like Piastri, Konstas' interaction with his idol will remain etched in his memory as he continues to showcase his talent on the main stage.
However, the incident with the young phenom didn't seem to bother Piastri, who took a small dig at Kohli's behavior.
“It’s been a fun year and it was a highlight – I didn’t get a shoulder bump for trying to challenge him, so that was good,” Piastri joked during an interview with Fox Cricket.
Adam Gilchrist and Oscar Piastri on Fox Cricket. FOX Sports
“It was a great move on a circuit like that. It was truly a special moment. »
Piastri, who plays for English giants McLaren in Formula 1, admitted that he never severed his connection with cricket.
Given the strong rivalry between England and Australia, the young driver admitted to appreciating the spirit of camaraderie that reigns within his British team.
“Playing for a British team comes with a lot of banter, especially when the Ashes are on,” he noted.
“I went to the Boxing Day Test once, but that was a few years ago. I had attended a few T20 and One Day matches when I was a kid and then I went to Europe for a long time. »
“It's nice to be back, and it's the first time I've actually been on the field during the cricket season, not the football season. »
Piastri is confident about his abilities, although admitting he would not have been selected for the Australian cricket team if he had not opted for motor racing. He believes his time on the field was better spent as a pitcher.
“I played [à l’école]I will say it,” he joked, responding to a question about his cricket experience.
“I was more of a pitcher than a batsman, but never at a very high level. It was pretty much the only sport I could do outside of racing season. I always tried to play it, even when I moved to the UK for school. »
“My achievement was that I played a match with the first teams, but that was because all the Year 12s were away for their exams, so I had my chance. »
“Representing your country is pretty cool,” Piastri continued. “Finishing with two victories and the constructor's title for the team, I hope we can repeat the experience next year and place higher in the drivers' championship too. »
