Oscar Piastri Drops Hidden Message Over F1 Team Change

Fans have spotted a hilarious reference to another F1 team in a new advert featuring McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.

The advert, produced by Google Pixel, sees Piastri use the American technology giant's products to film a series of skits.

One sees him ask its digital AI assistant to suggest what he could say in a speech after winning a Grand Prix.

Gemini replies: "You could say something like, 'Thanks'."

"Perfect," Piastri says.

At the beginning of the ad, Piastri, with a deadpan look, stares into the camera before stating: "I know I don't always show it, but winning does excite me.

"So when I see a chance to get ahead, I will change things up."

In the background, two other people can be seen removing a wall painting of the French Alps.

In its place was positioned a painting of a papaya fruit, cut in half.

The genius reference was to Piastri's old team, Alpine, and McLaren - who race in a papaya orange livery.

In the replies to the advert on Instagram, one fan wrote: "The switch from mountain painting (Alpine) to Papaya (McLaren) is genius."

A second adds: "The replacement of the wall painting is unmatched levels of funny."

A third said: "Everything about this is spot on."

While a fourth stated: "Alpine to Papaya is cold."

Ahead of the 2023 season, Alpine claimed that they had signed Piastri to a full-time race seat to replace the departing Fernando Alonso.

However, the Australian took to social media to post a statement which has since become one of the most infamous in F1 history.

"I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year," he wrote on Twitter.

"This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year."

Piastri subsequently quit the team before it was announced that he would be joining McLaren.

His McLaren contract was placed in front of the Contract Recognition Board, who ruled that it was the only contract that was valid for 2023 and 2024 - allowing him to formalise his exit from Alpine.