Oscar Piastri’s Miami GP Victory Celebration Sparks Debate on Social Media

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Oscar Piastri’s first victory at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix was a moment of pure joy for the McLaren driver, but it also sparked a series of reactions, including a somewhat unexpected one from his own mother. While many fans and members of the motorsport community celebrated the Australian’s triumph, the post-race celebrations, particularly his attempt at the ‘griddy’ dance, didn’t sit well with everyone, including his mother, Nicole Piastri.

Piastri’s victory in Miami was a landmark achievement for the 24-year-old, who had started the race from P4. His strategic race pace and a bit of luck, notably a first-lap clash between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, enabled Piastri to leapfrog into the lead. From there, he managed to extend his advantage and maintain his position, securing a well-deserved win. However, the real headline moment came after the race when Piastri, still buzzing from the victory, performed a celebratory dance in front of his team.

The dance, known as the ‘griddy’, is a popular touchdown celebration in American football that was famously made viral by Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Earlier in the week, Piastri had made a light-hearted bet with Jefferson, agreeing that if he won the race, he would perform the ‘griddy’ for the cameras. When the moment came, Piastri tried to execute the dance in front of his McLaren team, but the result was less than impressive. The awkward performance quickly found its way onto social media, amassing hundreds of thousands of views.

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Nicole Piastri, who is usually an outspoken and supportive figure on social media when it comes to her son’s career, couldn’t resist poking fun at his attempt. In response to the viral TikTok video, she posted a cheeky comment: “Rhythm was never his strong point…”. Her playful remark added to the mix of reactions that flooded social media, ranging from amused fans to those who were less than impressed by the dance move.

Despite his mother’s light-hearted criticism, Piastri himself didn’t seem too phased by the reaction. Speaking to the media, the McLaren driver admitted that the ‘griddy’ was a bit of a flop, acknowledging that he had made a bet with Jefferson, and the dance was his way of honoring it. “It was an attempt at a griddy. As you can tell, poorly executed,” he joked, adding that he would not be repeating the performance in the future. “That’s the one and only time you’re going to see me doing that,” he said, clearly ready to move on from the moment.

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The video of Piastri’s dance quickly became a viral sensation, with over 900,000 likes on Instagram alone. Despite the mixed reactions, the celebration helped endear him to fans worldwide, giving them a glimpse of his lighter side after a serious and hard-fought victory. Even Jefferson, who had been the originator of the bet, showed his support, reposting the video and cheering Piastri on with a message of encouragement: “OSCARRRRRR!!! LETS GOOOOO.”

Piastri’s victory in Miami was a significant milestone in his young Formula 1 career. The win not only confirmed his talent but also marked a key moment in McLaren’s resurgence as a competitive team in the sport. However, the celebration and the associated social media frenzy demonstrated that there is more to a driver’s personality than just their performance on track. While the ‘griddy’ dance might not have been executed flawlessly, it added a human element to Piastri’s image, allowing fans to connect with him in a more personal and relatable way.

In the end, the Miami GP victory and its aftermath highlight the pressures and the pleasures of being an F1 driver in the social media age. While fans celebrate their heroes for their on-track success, moments like these – however small or awkward – make them more relatable, reminding everyone that even the best athletes are human too.