Piastri locks in F1 future

Ahead of his home race, Oscar Piastri has signed a fresh new deal with McLaren that seals his long-term future.

Whilst the exact length of the deal is not specified, Piastri has inked a “long-term” deal with McLaren, which ensures he will continue racing in papaya for many years to come and starves off growing interest from rivals.

It is a big boost for the 23-year-old as he prepares for a huge 2025 season as McLaren defends the constructors title and it all starts this weekend on home soil in Melbourne.

After impressing during his rookie season, Piastri quickly was rewarded a contract extension through to the end of 2026.

But it is now clear the #81 will not be part of any silly season discussions with McLaren locking down the highly rated Aussie.

Following on a promising rookie campaign where he finished ninth, the second best performance by a rookie since Lewis Hamilton, he stepped things up in 2024.

In addition to scoring famous wins at Hungary and Azerbaijan, Piastri stood on the podium in Monaco, Austria, Belgium, Monza, Singapore and Qatar as he was the only driver to complete every racing laps of the season on his way to finishing an impressive fourth in the championship.

With even higher expectations for 2025, Piastri is pleased to enter the season with his future sorted as he has found a happy home at McLaren.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision,” he said. 

“The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible.

“There are so many talented and special people working at MTC who have helped me to become a Formula 1 race winner very early in my career. 

“Therefore, I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come.

“I’m excited to fight for the big prizes as a McLaren driver and after last year’s fantastic achievements, it has made me even hungrier to stay at the sharp end.”

With Piastri entering his third year at McLaren, he will overtake Daniel Ricciardo as the longest lasting Australian at the famous British squad and both the leaders are extremely impressed by the Brighton boy.

“It’s fantastic to confirm Oscar’s extension with McLaren. Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown said.

“We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track. 

“He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for World Championships together.”

“Further extending our partnership with Oscar is a symbol of our belief and trust in him as a driver, as well as a reflection of our shared ambition to continue in our fight for Championships together,” McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella said.

“It has been a pleasure working with Oscar throughout the past two seasons and he has continued to prove how impressive he is in terms of his talent, determination and work ethic as a driver and his contribution to our team and culture as a person.

“Alongside Lando, we have what we need locked in for the long term to keep pushing forward. I look forward to continuing to watch Oscar grow and develop as a driver and know that many successes lie ahead for him.”

The Australian Grand Prix opens an F1 season for the first time in Piastri’s career this weekend.

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