Ashes Fans Taunt Oscar Piastri with Lando Norris Chant

Oscar Piastri faced a unique form of British banter while attending the Ashes cricket match in his hometown of Melbourne. The traveling "Barmy Army" fanbase directed a chant at the Australian driver, declaring he was "just a s h Lando Norris," a pointed reference to his recent world championship defeat to his McLaren teammate. Piastri reportedly took the jibe in good spirits, responding with a grin.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores how the intense intra-team battle for the 2024 F1 championship has transcended the sport and entered mainstream sports culture. For a rivalry to be used as fodder in a completely different sporting contest like the Ashes—one of the biggest in the world—it demonstrates the massive public profile of both drivers and the drama of their season-long fight.

The details:

• The setting: The fourth Test of the Ashes series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a major event in the Australia-England sports rivalry.
• The source: The chant came from England's notorious "Barmy Army" fanbase, known for their creative and often relentless vocal support.
• The context: Piastri lost the F1 title to Norris by a narrow 13-point margin, despite leading the standings for a significant portion of the season (15 Grands Prix).
• The reaction: Piastri appeared to handle the taunt with good humor, grinning in response to the fans.
• Adding insult to injury: Piastri also had to watch his national cricket team suffer a heavy defeat to England within two days of play.

Looking Ahead:

While a lighthearted moment, the chant is a reminder of the pressure and narrative that will follow both drivers into the 2025 season. The Norris-Piastri dynamic is now a central storyline in F1, and every off-track interaction will be scrutinized. How they handle their rivalry moving forward, both internally at McLaren and externally in the public eye, will be crucial to their collective success.