If you happen to step foot in Melbourne this week, you’ll rapidly be taught there’s no escaping Oscar Piastri. His face beams down from billboards, sails previous on trams, and even greets hungry followers outdoors Grill’d, the place his limited-edition burger has change into a nationwide hit for the chain. He additionally recorded particular bulletins for town’s public transport system and can make appearances for manufacturers like Jack Daniel’s and Mastercard within the lead-up to the race. Australia’s golden boy is so inescapable that even his personal sister, Hattie, has had sufficient — a viral TikTok video confirmed her working into a number of billboards of her huge brother on her each day commute. That’s all to say, there’s no query that the nation’s love affair with the McLaren ace is properly underway.
It’s simple to overlook that 2025 is simply Piastri’s third season as an F1 driver; at simply 23 years previous, he already carries himself with the maturity of a seasoned veteran. He entered the paddock within the shadow of his charismatic fellow countryman, Daniel Ricciardo, after he was booted from the Papaya outfit on the finish of 2022. However Piastri instantly made it clear he had no plans to copy the larger-than-life antics and particular model of Aussie humor that made Ricciardo a family identify. In distinction, Piastri is quiet, however followers have since realized that he’s additionally hilariously dry and witty. He’s not flashy in any sense of the phrase both, and he definitely isn’t attempting to be somebody he’s not.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Workforce, 1st place, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, and Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Workforce, 2nd place, have fun after the Dash
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs
That authenticity has made him a magnet for manufacturers — whether or not it’s a private take care of Grill’d or his McLaren sponsor obligations with Mastercard. It’s additionally nice timing contemplating Ricciardo’s decade-long reign because the king of the Australian Grand Prix is coming to an finish: there’s a brand new hometown hero to function the face of Aussie motorsport — and he’s plastered on each obtainable billboard, bus cease, and display.
Piastri is seemingly feeling extra assured and at-ease than ever earlier than, and he’s acquired loads to be completely happy about following the announcement that he inked a contract extension with McLaren this week. The size of the multi-year deal was not disclosed, although his present contract runs via 2026. “It’s an awesome feeling realizing that I’m a part of McLaren’s long-term imaginative and prescient,” he mentioned in a press launch Wednesday. “I’m very proud to be persevering with to symbolize this legendary staff for a few years to return. I’m excited to battle for the massive prizes as a McLaren driver and after final yr’s unbelievable achievements, it has made me even hungrier to remain on the sharp finish.”
One other Oscar Piastri advert on the tram in Melbourne, Australia
Not solely did Piastri change into a grand prix winner in 2024, however he performed a significant function in serving to the staff clinch its first constructor’s title since 1998. He and Lando Norris, who additionally signed a contract extension final yr, are one of many strongest line-ups on the grid, that means followers have an actual shot of seeing an Aussie declare victory at Albert Park on Sunday. Within the historical past of the race, no Australian driver has ever stood on the rostrum, but when anybody can break the so-called curse, it’s Piastri.
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Emily Selleck
Components 1
Tradition
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
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