As the Australian sun rose on Wednesday, McLaren made a significant announcement that’s set to shake up the Formula 1 landscape: they’ve officially confirmed a multi-year contract extension with Oscar Piastri, the talented Australian driver who’s gearing up to make a strong impression at his home Grand Prix in 2025. This move comes hot on the heels of Lando Norris’s renewal last year, which means Zak Brown has now secured his dream driver lineup until at least 2027, providing a much-needed boost of stability to the team as they eye the World Championship title this season.
With the MCL39 car looking like a top contender, McLaren is brimming with optimism and confidence, especially with Piastri at the wheel. As the young Aussie prepares to face his home crowd, everything seems to be falling into place for the British team. Meanwhile, the Formula 1 driver market is expected to heat up this summer, with rumors swirling around Max Verstappen’s potential departure from Red Bull, which could trigger a chain reaction of moves. However, McLaren is choosing to focus on its own strengths, having secured both its driver seats for the foreseeable future.
According to McLaren’s official statement, “Oscar has consistently impressed throughout his remarkable career in motorsport, rapidly rising through the junior ranks to become the FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 champion, before winning a Sprint race in his debut season with McLaren in 2023 and also securing podiums in Japan and Qatar.” The team’s confidence in Piastri is well-founded, given his outstanding performance in 2024, where he took the top spot at the Hungarian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and racked up podium finishes in Monaco, Austria, Belgium, Monza, Singapore, and Qatar. Notably, he was the only driver to complete every lap of the 2024 season, ultimately finishing fourth in the Drivers’ Championship standings in just his second year in Formula 1. These impressive results played a crucial role in McLaren’s victory in the 2024 FIA Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
Oscar Piastri expressed his delight at the contract extension, saying, “It’s an amazing feeling to know I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision. The team believed in me when I signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve been on over the past two seasons to help McLaren return to the top of the sport has been incredible. There are so many talented and special people working at the MTC who have helped me become a Formula 1 race winner from the start of my career. I’m really proud to continue representing this legendary team for many years to come. After last year’s fantastic achievements, I’m even more eager to stay at the forefront.”
Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, echoed Piastri’s sentiments, stating, “It’s fantastic to confirm Oscar’s renewal with McLaren. Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it an obvious decision to extend his time as a McLaren driver.” Brown added, “We have the best driver lineup on the grid, and over the past two seasons, we’ve seen just how valuable Oscar is to the team, both on and off the track. He was instrumental in enriching our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, so we’re excited to see what we can achieve in the next few years as we continue to fight for the World Championship together.”
Andrea Stella, McLaren F1 Team Principal, also weighed in on the extension, saying, “Extending our collaboration with Oscar is a symbol of our faith and trust in him as a driver, as well as a reflection of our shared ambition to continue fighting for the championship.” Stella praised Piastri’s exceptional talent, determination, and work ethic, both as a driver and as a team player, and expressed his enthusiasm for seeing the young Aussie continue to grow and develop behind the wheel. With Piastri and Norris at the helm, McLaren is confident it has the perfect combination to drive the team forward and achieve long-term success. As the 2025 season gets underway, all eyes will be on Piastri and McLaren to see if they can build on last year’s momentum and make a serious push for the World Championship title.