Close to the tip of the 2023 Formulation 1 season, McLaren CEO Zak Brown instructed me the workforce had the perfect driver pairing on the grid.
That duo goes to be collectively for the foreseeable future.
On Tuesday McLaren introduced a brand new “multi-year” contract extension for Oscar Piastri, whose present contract was set to run out on the finish of the 2026 F1 season. The Australian driver, who signed an extension throughout his rookie marketing campaign, now will get to open the season in his residence race with a brand new contract in hand.
“It’s an ideal feeling figuring out that I’m a part of McLaren’s long-term imaginative and prescient. The workforce had the idea in me once we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the previous two seasons to assist return McLaren to the very high of the game has been unimaginable,” mentioned Piastri within the announcement.
“There are such a lot of gifted and particular individuals working on the MTC who’ve helped me to turn out to be a Formulation 1 race winner very early in my profession. Due to this fact, I’m very proud to be persevering with to characterize this legendary workforce for a few years to come back,” added the driving force. “I’m excited to struggle 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.”
Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, has a deal by way of the 2027 F1 season.
“It’s unbelievable to substantiate Oscar’s extension with McLaren. Not solely is he an extremely gifted driver, however his work ethic and cultural match throughout the workforce made it a no brainer to increase his time in papaya,” mentioned Brown.
“We’ve obtained the perfect driver line-up on the grid, and previously two seasons, we’ve seen how a lot of an asset to the workforce Oscar is each on and off monitor. He was completely elementary 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 come back as we proceed to struggle for World Championships collectively.”
Staff Principal Andrea Stella hailed Piastri’s work ethic and improvement as a driver.
“Additional extending our partnership with Oscar is a logo of our perception and belief in him as a driver, in addition to a mirrored image of our shared ambition to proceed in our struggle for Championships collectively,” mentioned 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 when it comes to his expertise, dedication and work ethic as a driver and his contribution to our workforce and tradition as an individual.
“Alongside Lando, we have now what we’d like locked in for the long run to maintain pushing ahead. I look ahead to persevering with to look at Oscar develop and develop as a driver and know that many successes lie forward for him.”
Piastri, together with Norris and the remainder of McLaren, start their protection of the Constructors’ title they received a yr in the past this weekend on the Australian Grand Prix.
