Home/F1

via Reuters

via Reuters

In a delightful revelation on the eff won with DRS podcast, Formula 1 rookie Oscar Piastri showcased a surprising hidden talent that left American actor Dax Shepard astonished. Piastri, who scored his first Formula 1 podium at the Japanese Grand Prix, disclosed that he had studied Japanese for a few years in school. This unexpected linguistic ability led to a humorous exchange between the two, prompting Shepard to share a quirky story from his past about his ex-girlfriend.

However, for the avid F1 fan, this is not the first time Oscar Piastri has spoken about his ability to speak Japanese. During the driver’s conference at the Japanese GP, the McLaren driver was asked to give a short message to his Japanese friends as the reporter had read somewhere that Oscar had learned Japanese at school. Oscar Piastri promptly gave a thank you note in Japanese, saying, “arigato gozaimasu,” which is a polite way to say thank you.

Oscar Piastri talks about his fondness for exploring new places

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Fast forward to the eff won with DRS podcast, where Piastri delved into both his professional and personal life. Amid discussions about exploring new places and trying diverse cuisines, Oscar revealed to Dax that he knows how to speak Japanese, although he is not very fluent in it.

“I just like going and seeing new places, trying out the food. I really like Japanese food, I actually studied Japanese for a few years at school,” Oscar Piastri told Shepard. Intrigued by this knowledge, Shepard prodded Piastri to say something in Japanese. Piastri, with a grin, responded, “I can say, like, what my name is, and I know how to ask for a phone number, which is not as badly intentioned as you think. It’s just something that’s stuck in my head forever.”

Shepard playfully challenged Piastri to ask for his phone number in Japanese. Piastri responded, Denwa bangou wa nan desu ka,” leaving the actor astonished. “Oh my God, I feel like I just teleported to Japan. I mean, that was seamless,” Shepard exclaimed.

This prompted Shepard to share a delightful snippet from his past involving an ex-girlfriend who, like Piastri, studied Japanese. However, her vocabulary was limited to peculiar yet amusing choices. My ex-girlfriend… she studied Japanese too. And the only thing she remembered was Makodanodu’s, which is how you say McDonald’s in Japan… She knew Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in Japanese. Then I probably made her sing that 300 times.

Read More: Is Oscar Piastri Poised to Secure 1st F1 Victory Before Lando Norris?

The 2023 season is over, but the accolades keep pouring in for Oscar Piastri after his stellar performance in his rookie season.

Oscar Piastri bags the 2023 Autosport Rookie of the Year Award

The 22-year-old Australian driver secured the prestigious Autosport Rookie of the Year Award for 2023, marking his third consecutive win in the category after he won it in F3 and F2 in previous years. The announcement unfolded at the Autosport Awards ceremony on December 3. Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen had the honor of presenting the award to Piastri, who expressed his gratitude in a pre-recorded video message.

Piastri graciously thanked everyone who voted for him, acknowledging the remarkable year and the team’s impressive turnaround. “It’s been a remarkable year. A tough start for the team, but what a turnaround we’ve had. Plenty of highlights, a couple of podiums for myself, Sprint win in Qatar. It’s been a year to remember.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The recognition adds Oscar Piastri’s name to a prestigious list of past winners, including Formula 1 legends like Jenson Button and Juan Pablo Montoya.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch This Story | How Oscar Piastri Has Made a Scintillating Rise to the Pinnacle of Motorsport

Do you think Oscar Piastri can beat Lando Norris for a first victory in Formula 1? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.