Oscar Piastri's deadpan "Mario Kart" joke wins the Japanese Grand Prix cooldown room
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Following an interesting Japanese Grand Prix won by the impressive Kimi Antonelli, the podium sitters retreated to the calm of the cooldown room. With the Italian sat beside Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, they watched Ollie Bearman's violent crash as he swerved to avoid a slow Franco Colapinto.
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The trio reacted in unison as they watched the replay of the Haas hitting the barriers in what was confirmed to be a 50G shunt. With Bearman confirmed to be in good health following the incident, it was a comment from Piastri that amused fans of the championship.
Turning to Leclerc on the sofa, the Australian brought up a comment made by the Monegasque earlier in the season.
"I finally see what you mean about the mushroom," Piastri joked. "It's pretty accurate."
Max Verstappen is far from the only driver comparing the hybrid systems used for the 2026 regulations to Nintendo's iconic racing franchise. In fact, rather ironically, the Japanese Grand Prix was celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. brand as the cast of the upcoming movie on the subject joined the chaos.
Leclerc vented his frustrations with the 2026 regulations during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, likening the boost mode to a Mario Kart power-up.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes"This is like the mushroom in Mario Kart," he said on the radio, referencing the burst of speed that's available to drivers while others are rendered sitting ducks when they run out of available power. Verstappen was a victim of this performance deficit in today's race when he was overtaken by Alpine's Pierre Gasly, whom he simply waved to in his defenceless state.
This came after his recent comments where he claimed he's swapped his simulator work with racing on a Nintendo, joking that he was "good with mushrooms, but not so much with blue shells."
Bearman's crash today looked to be caused by the deficit amplified by the current powertrains - something the FIA is going to be discussing with stakeholders in the five-week break ahead of the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
Photos from Japanese GP - Sunday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, MercedesMark Thompson / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
An Oracle Red Bull Racing fan.
An Oracle Red Bull Racing fan.Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Car of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Car of Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMarcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Brie Larson.
Brie Larson.Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, WilliamsLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Ferrari fans.
Ferrari fans.Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri's car, McLaren
Oscar Piastri's car, McLarenMarcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin RacingAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Sergio Perez, Cadillac RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Charlie Day and Jack Black visit the Mercedes AMG F1 Team garage.
Charlie Day and Jack Black visit the Mercedes AMG F1 Team garage.Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, Mercedes
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, MercedesLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Benny Safdie
Benny SafdieMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing BullsLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac RacingLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesKym Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Zak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLarenKym Illman / Getty Images
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, FerrariAndrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMark Thompson / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Arvid Lindblad, Racing BullsRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, AlpineMark Thompson / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingClive Mason / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing BullsAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing BullsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team car after his crash
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team car after his crashKym Illman / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineAlastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLarenSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingClive Mason / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 TeamMark Thompson / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren Team
Oscar Piastri, McLaren TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesClive Mason / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesKym Illman / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesMark Thompson / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
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