It’s hard to grasp what the participation of a non-European driver in Grand Prix racing means unless you experience it firsthand in their home country. In the sports culture of the Old Continent, Formula 1 holds a significant role, and even if someone isn’t passionate about it, they might come across news in newspapers, on social media, or on television. Therefore, it’s no surprise that most drivers always come from the same countries, such as Germany, Great Britain, Spain, or Italy. So, when a young driver from Japan, China, the USA, or Latin America appears on the grid, their fellow citizens go wild. Just think about how there’s talk of reintroducing the Argentine GP solely because of Franco Colapinto, and tickets for this year’s Interlagos race sold out after the first race the young driver did with Williams.
If having someone participate is difficult, let alone someone who wins. For this reason, the Australian Parliament received a petition, signed by 171 people, requesting that July 21st become a holiday in honor of “Oscar Piastri National Day.” The occasion would be to commemorate the first victory of the 2001-born driver, achieved on July 21st at the Hungaroring circuit in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Unfortunately, the people of Australia won’t have an extra day off, as the matter wasn’t even discussed by Parliament: just a brief mention, a public reading, and then immediate rejection.
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