F1: Oscar Piastri to Continue with McLaren Until 2026, Signs Multi-year Extension Deal

McLaren and Oscar Piastri have signed a new multi-year contract, ensuring that the Australian talent will remain with the British team until at least the end of 2026. Initially, McLaren had a multi-year deal with Piastri, which extended until 2024, but after his impressive 2023 season, the team decided to extend it by at least two years. Piastri's standout moments in Formula One include his first top-three finish in the Sprint race in Belgium and an impressive six-point finish, culminating in his recent seventh-place achievement at the Singapore Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri made his Formula One debut in 2023 with McLaren as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo. Piastri's impressive P4 performance at the British GP cemented his status as one of the season's top rookies.

F1: What did Oscar Piastri and McLaren said?

Team Principal Andrea Stella said, ‘It’s fantastic to confirm that Oscar has signed a multi-year extension with the team. Oscar is an asset to McLaren and constantly impresses with his performance, work ethic, and attitude, so it was an easy decision for the team to make. He has already proved pivotal to the team, so it’s brilliant to have his vote of confidence as we push to win championships again in the future. I look forward to seeing him develop with us as we continue this journey together.’

McLaren CEO Zak Brown said: "I’m delighted to be continuing our partnership with Oscar through to the end of 2026. He’s an incredible talent and an asset to the team so it’s fantastic to be committing to each other in the long term. Oscar is already proving what he can do out on track and has been instrumental in the turnaround we’ve had so far this season. He’s fit into the team brilliantly and is really valued by the whole McLaren Racing family. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow both on and off track."

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Piastri said, "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 welcome that I have received and the relationships that I have built make this feel like home already. The team’s consistent commitment to me has made me feel incredibly valued and the desire from the team for me to be part of its long-term future made this an easy decision." 

F1: McLaren 2023 Season So Far

With Lando Norris's podium finish in Singapore, McLaren has shown one of the most significant midseason leaps in performance in the last few races – the MCL60 is now regularly causing headaches for the front-running drivers. The beginning of the year was not at all like this.

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Since the Austrian Grand Prix, when McLaren introduced its first big changes, the British team has collected 122 points over the course of seven Grand Prix weekends. In that period, Aston Martin has seen a decline in their performance, with only one podium finish and 63 points to show for their efforts. Neither team was looking forward to racing on courses like Monza and Spa-Francorchamps, which need high levels of aerodynamic efficiency. Nevertheless, McLaren still appeared to have the upper hand over Aston Martin at these circuits, giving them reason to be optimistic about upcoming higher-speed locations like the inaugural Las Vegas GP.