The McLaren team competing in the Formula 1 World Championship announced today, Wednesday, the extension of Australian driver Oscar Piastri's contract until the end of 2026. McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, stated in a press release, "He is an amazing talent and a strength for the team, so it is great to be tied to each other long-term. Oscar has already proven his abilities and played an effective role in the transformation we have experienced so far this season."
Piastri remarked on Wednesday, "The welcome I received and the relationships I have built make me feel at home already. The team's ongoing confidence in my abilities gives me incredible appreciation, and the desire of the team for me to be part of its long-term future made this decision easy." He added, "To be wanted in this way and to have the team show so much faith in me after just half a season means a lot."
Piastri is currently ranked 11th in the championship ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend in Suzuka, with his best results being a second place in the sprint race in Belgium in July and a fourth place at Silverstone in the same month. Last Sunday in Singapore, lacking the updates that Norris had, Piastri finished seventh while his teammate came in second.
McLaren is currently in fifth place in the overall standings after a poor start to the season, having failed to score in the first two races before bringing his fortunes back to life with significant improvement in Austria in July. Norris has now finished second three times in the last six races. Piastri was a champion in both Formula 2 and Formula 3.
