McLaren has secured prized rookie driver Oscar Piastri on a long-term deal that will see him drive the papaya-colored car until the end of the 2026 F1 season, at the very least.
"I am thrilled to be extending my partnership with McLaren for many years. I want to be fighting it out at the front of the grid with this team and I am excited by the vision and foundations that are already being laid to get us there," the 22-year-old said in the official statement.
Piastri has had an excellent rookie season, consistently putting up quality drives for McLaren. He qualified in third place during the British Grand Prix and ended the race in fourth, his best finish in his young F1 career.
The Melbourne native had a sensational drive at the Singapore Grand Prix last Sunday, September 17. After qualifying in 17th place, he jumped ten places in the Marina Bay Street Circuit to finish the race at P7.
Before entering F1, Piastri had a decorated junior career, winning the Formula 2 championship in 2021 and the Formula 3 championship in 2020.
Read more: Charles Leclerc Frustrated With Playing Second Fiddle to Carlos Sainz Jr. in Singapore Grand Prix
Piastri takes a dig at Alpine
After McLaren's announcement of his new deal, the Australian driver took to X, formerly Twitter, to hit back at his former team, Alpine, where he served as a reserve driver in 2022.
In August 2022, Alpine notably announced that Piastri would drive for them in 2023. However, the younger racer quickly denied these claims, saying that the team released the press release without his agreement and he wouldn't be driving for the French outfit.
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