Martin Brundle was a very fast driver in his time. He is considered quite unlucky to have never won a Formula 1 race. However, since his retirement, he has become a true legend of the sport. His voice is iconic and Formula 1 races are incomplete without his gridwalk. At the Singapore GP, he got hold of young McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. However, what happened later was quite embarrassing for the young Australian.
Snubbed for Another Driver
Oscar Piastri had a bad qualifying on Saturday. He was on a good lap when Lance Stroll brought out the red flags by crashing. This left him starting 17th on his first-ever visit to the Singapore GP, which is notoriously difficult to overtake.
Oscar Piastri was on his way to the grid when he was stopped by a frantic Martin Brundle. He asked the McLaren driver about his bad luck in qualifying and the work he had to do in the race. Oscar started answering when Martin saw Esteban Ocon, who was celebrating his 27th birthday.
Martin Brundle abruptly called out Esteban to wish him a happy birthday. However, in that short span of time, Oscar Piastri walked away. Martin could do nothing but smile sheepishly as he realized he made a mistake. As a saving grace, he did get to wish Esteban.
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Oscar Piastri’s Reaction
A Formula 1 driver like Oscar Piastri wouldn’t be at fault if he felt miffed about the incident. After all, drivers are trying to get in a zone before the race and he graciously gave his time to Martin Brundle. However, the McLaren driver has shown immense maturity and patience in his concise Formula 1 career.
He took to Twitter to ask Martin Brundle if they should finish their interview in Suzuka. He went further and said he would’ve done the same for Esteban.
A Brilliant Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri performed exceedingly well at the Singapore GP. He made up 10 places, finishing 7th at the chequered flag, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez who started 13th.
Also Read: Oscar Piastri signs multi-year extension with McLaren until the end of 2026
He was helped by the retirements of George Russell and birthday boy Esteban, but he didn’t have an upgraded McLaren to help him. To put the icing on the cake, he has signed for McLaren till 2026.
