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“It Could Be End of My Career:” Oscar Piastri Races Against Moto GP Star Pedro Acosta

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"It Could Be End of My Career:" Oscar Piastri Races Against Moto GP Star Pedro Acosta

To reach F1, most racing drivers begin their careers in karting, and Oscar Piastri was no exception, excelling in this discipline. However, the same isn’t true for stars in other motorsports like MotoGP riders, who typically don’t start with karting. Despite this, Pedro Acosta embraced the challenge of competing against Piastri.

Acosta and Piastri suited up for a karting race at the Brignoles Karting Circuit in France, a well-known training ground for many up-and-coming talents. Acosta admitted that he had never driven a kart before, while Piastri, to ease his nerves, shared that he hadn’t been in one for over two years.

Piastri knew he had to win, as he was the more experienced driver in four-wheel racing. Otherwise, as the McLaren ace admitted, “It could be the end of my career.”

Before they hit the track, Acosta needed to learn how a kart worked, and Piastri took on the role of teacher. F1 commentator Tom Clarkson asked Piastri if he was a good teacher, to which the Australian replied, “My girlfriend would say no. But I think I’m okay.”

Then, they took off. Piastri initially held a comfortable lead, but soon Acosta seemed to get the hang of controlling the kart and closed in on his opponent. Piastri’s mentor and manager, Mark Webber, watched from the sidelines and praised Acosta’s skill as the Spanish MotoGP rider pushed the McLaren driver to his limits.

When they stopped, however, Acosta told Piastri that driving the kart was “hell“. He had no idea machines as small as a kart could travel that fast. Acosta also mentioned that it was a physically demanding affair. Piastri agreed and made a bold claim.

Karting is more difficult than F1: Piastri

Piastri, who has been in F1 for two years and is a race-winner, asserts that karting is more difficult. Given his experience and success, his claim is one that should be taken seriously. “Physically, this is really hard,” he added.

Piastri was impressed with Acosta, particularly with how he managed the short corners and hairpins. “Formula 1, I’m coming,” Acosta jokingly declared after receiving praise from Piastri.

In the end, Piastri’s ‘career was saved’. During the one-lap timing shootout, Piastri clocked 44.22 seconds, while Acosta finished just one second behind at 45.19 seconds. Piastri was impressed, remarking, “For the first time driving a go-kart, very, very impressive.”

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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