Oscar Piastri has signed a contract extension with McLaren that can hold him with the staff till no less than 2028.
Piastri began racing for McLaren in 2023 having signed the earlier 12 months, and has agreed a brand new multi-year deal on high of his present contract which runs till 2026.
The announcement, which comes forward of this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix reside on Sky Sports activities, means Piastri and Lando Norris can be team-mates at McLaren for the subsequent three seasons, as Norris’ contract expires on the finish of 2027.
“It is a fantastic feeling figuring out that I am a part of McLaren’s long-term imaginative and prescient. The staff had the idea in me once we signed in 2022, and the journey we have gone on over the previous two seasons to assist return McLaren to the very high of the game has been unimaginable,” mentioned Piastri.
“There are such a lot of gifted and particular folks working at MTC who’ve helped me to grow to be a Formulation 1 race winner very early in my profession. Subsequently, I am very proud to be persevering with to signify this legendary staff for a few years to return.
“I am excited to combat for the large prizes as a McLaren driver and after final 12 months’s implausible achievements, it has made me even hungrier to remain on the sharp finish.”
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri say they’ve a ‘lot of confidence’ in themselves to combat for a F1 championship title this season
Piastri has received two races in his F1 profession, final 12 months’s Hungarian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, and is among the many title favourites for this season with McLaren anticipated to have a powerful automotive.
McLaren are the reigning constructors’ champions and chief government Zak Brown says his staff have the most effective driver pairing on the grid.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri unpacks life in Formulation 1 by answering the 12 questions you have at all times needed to ask an F1 driver
“It is implausible to verify Oscar’s extension with McLaren. Not solely is he an extremely gifted driver, however his work ethic and cultural match inside the staff made it a no brainer to increase his time in papaya,” mentioned Brown.
“We have got the most effective driver line-up on the grid, and previously two seasons, we have seen how a lot of an asset to the staff Oscar is each on and off monitor.
“He was completely basic in including to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship final season, so we’re all excited to see what we are able to do within the years to return as we proceed to combat for World Championships collectively.”
Karun Chandhok takes a glance again on the Azerbaijan GP to see how Oscar Piastri claimed victory
Will Piastri and Norris proceed to work in unison?
Norris and Piastri seem to have an excellent relationship within the two seasons spent collectively as team-mates however there have been tense moments final 12 months.
On the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris was instructed repeatedly to let Piastri by means of throughout the latter phases of the race after he undercut his team-mate within the pit stops. Finally, Norris let Piastri by means of with three laps to go so the Australian received his maiden F1 race.
Pay attention to the radio messages from McLaren all through the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, which was controversially received by Oscar Piastri
Six weeks later in Monza, Piastri overtook Norris on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix when the pair had been in first and second. In doing so, Norris additionally misplaced out to Charles Leclerc and the Ferrari driver went on to take victory.
After that incident, McLaren declared Norris would get precedence for the rest of the season on account of his place within the Drivers’ Championship. Nonetheless, on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Norris slowed down Sergio Perez to assist Piastri and the latter received the race.
“Additional extending our partnership with Oscar is an emblem of our perception and belief in him as a driver, in addition to a mirrored image of our shared ambition to proceed in our combat for Championships collectively,” mentioned staff principal Andrea Stella.
“It has been a pleasure working with Oscar all through the previous two seasons and he has continued to show how spectacular he’s by way of his expertise, willpower and work ethic as a driver and his contribution to our staff and tradition as an individual.
“Alongside Lando, we now have what we want locked in for the long run to maintain pushing ahead. I look ahead to persevering with to observe Oscar develop and develop as a driver and know that many successes lie forward for him.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Australian GP schedule
Thursday March 13
- 2.30am: Drivers’ Press Convention
- 5am: The F1 Present: Lights Out 2025*
- 9.45pm: F3 Follow
- 10.55pm: F2 Follow
Friday March 14
- 1am: Australian GP Follow One (session begins at 1.30am)*
- 2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
- 3.40am: Staff Principals’ Press Convention
- 4.45am: Australian GP Follow Two (session begins at 5am)*
- 6.25am: F2 Qualifying*
- 7.15am: The F1 Present*
Saturday March 15
- 12.10am: F3 Dash*
- 1.10am: Australian GP Follow Three (session begins at 1.30am)*
- 3.10am: F2 Dash*
- 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
- 5am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
- 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
7.30am: Australian GP Qualifying Replay* (9am on Sky Showcase) - 9.55pm: F3 Function Race*
Sunday March 16
- 12.25am: F2 Function Race*
- 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 6am: Australian GP response: Chequered Flag*
- 7am: Ted’s Pocket book*
- 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formulation 1 season reside on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
