Oscar Piastri: Driver Profile

Australian ace Oscar Piastri is a Formula 1 rookie, but he has already made a big noise in the paddock, impressing as the team-mate of Lando Norris at McLaren.

Two podium finishes have already been secured and there seems little doubt that a big future lies ahead for Piastri, who has already put pen to paper on a contract extension which runs until the end of the 2026 season.

Name	Oscar Jack Piastri
Born	Melbourne, Victoria
Date of Birth	April 6, 2002
Age	22
F1 starts	20 (up to 2023 Sao Paulo GP)
F1 wins	0
F1 podiums	2
F1 points	87 (up to 2023 Sao Paulo GP)

Where is Oscar Piastri from?

Oscar Piastri was born in Melbourne and his talent was clear from a very early age as he gained a sports scholarship to continue some of his education in England.

As with most racing drivers he started out in karting and in 2016 he moved full-time to the UK to enhance his development.

What was Oscar Piastri's racing record before F1?

Piastri made his debut in Formula 4 in 2016 and continued in that class until 2018, when he made the step up to Formula Renault Eurocup.

In his first season at the level he finished in ninth place in the championship, but 12 months later he stormed to the title, winning seven races along the way.

In 2019 he made the jump to FIA Formula 3 Championship and was instantly at home as he roared to the championship for Prema Racing.

The further step up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship seemed also to pose few problems, as another rookie season yielded another title, with Piastri becoming the first driver to secure those three championships in three seasons.

He also joined an illustrious list of drivers to have claimed the F2 title in their rookie season, with the only previous pilots to do so Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg, Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

Piastri was also only the fifth driver to win the F3 and F2 championship back-to-back, following Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Leclerc and Russell.

Which F1 teams has Oscar Piastri raced for?

Piastri is still in his first season in F1, so McLaren are the only team he has driven for, although he very nearly ended up starting his career with Alpine, before a contract dispute was eventually settled.

Piastri was initially expected to be a reserve driver for the 2023 season, but was bumped up to partner Norris after fellow Aussie Daniel Ricciardo left the team.

What have been Oscar Piastri's best F1 races?

Piastri has made 20 starts to date and scored his first points at his home Australian Grand Prix, where he finished in eighth position.

At the British Grand Prix he qualified in fourth place and finished in fourth, just missing out on a maiden podium spot.

That would eventually arrive at the Japanese Grand Prix, when he became the first rookie in six years to finish in the top three at a Grand Prix, with team-mate Norris just ahead in second.

The Aussie quickly proved that that was no fluke as he won the Sprint Race at the following Qatar Grand Prix and took second place in the race itself, finishing less than five seconds adrift of the all-conquering Max Verstappen in his Red Bull.

Is Oscar Piastri improving as an F1 driver?

The clear and obvious answer is yes, with the F1 rookie still short on experience, but gifted with a huge amount of natural talent.

He can surely only improve, especially if McLaren are able to make improvements to their car and become genuine contenders for the Constructors' Championship.

Who will Oscar Piastri race for next season?

As has been mentioned above, Piastri is already tied to McLaren for another three seasons, so the opportunity to build and grow can be undertaken in the most stable of positions.