PIASTRI PUTS IT ALL ON PAPAYA

Oscar Piastri is betting his Formula One future, and his hope of becoming a world champion, on McLaren.

After two years as part of the Mac attack, he has signed another 'multi-year deal', to cement his future with the team founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren in the 1960s.

The fresh contract locks him in at the team which is favourite for this year's championship and delivered his first two GP wins in 2024.

With just days to the start of the 2025 season at the Australian Grand Prix, the new deal also gives him a firm footing to challenge Lando Norris at Albert Park – and beyond – instead of submitting to #2 status in the squad.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision," Piastri said in the official McLaren announcement.

"The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible. I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come. 

“I’m excited to fight for the big prizes as a McLaren driver and after last year’s fantastic achievements, it has made me even hungrier to stay at the sharp end.” 

The new deal, which will bring much tastier finanical terms for Piastri thanks to his manager Mark Webber, has been trumpeted by team boss Zak Brown.

"Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer for us. Excited to see what we can do together in the years to come," Brown said.

He referred to Piastri's results last year which – in addition to GP victories in Hungary and Azerbaijan – included podiums in Monaco, Austria, Belgium, Monza, Singapore and Qatar as well as a Sprint win in Qatar. He was the only driver to complete every racing lap of the 2024 season, finishing fourth in the drivers’ championship standings.

The new Piastri deal is part of a plan at McLaren which sees all of its key players – Norris, Brown and team principal Andrea Stella – on long-term deals which will take them through the coming upheaval of new technical regulations in 2026.