The series of the summer break in Formula 1 has ended. “The only contract to be recognized by the Council is the contract between McLaren Racing Limited and Mr Piastri dated 4 July 2022. Mr Piastri is authorized to drive for McLaren Racing Limited for the 2023 and 2024 seasons”, said the International Federation (FIA) in a press release on Friday, September 2. The judgment was “unanimous”, and the irrevocable award. In the process, McLaren formalized the recruitment of young Oscar Piastri to join his seat and form his 2023 driver duo with Lando Norris. Announced by Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso, the Australian driver had, a month before, a noteworthy exit on Twitter to deny any agreement with the French team for which he is a reserve driver.
We have signed 2021 F2 champion @OscarPiastri.
Oscar joins Lando to form our exciting F1 driver line-up from 2023.
Full story.
—McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 2, 2022
He finally joins the English team in place of Daniel Ricciardo “for a multi-year contract“, says the press release from the British team. Franceinfo: sport takes you to discover the reigning Formula 2 champion, who will make his debut in the premier class next year.
Radio-controlled cars, his first love
A lifelong motorsport enthusiast, Piastri did not immediately make his debut in karting, like many of his colleagues. As a child, the native of Melbourne was first interested in racing radio-controlled cars, first for leisure, before taking part in competitions.
Crowned second-class national champion at the age of 9, Piastri could have made a career in the discipline. “I talked about it a lot with my father, and we really considered it. But traveling all over the world at 9 or 10 years old involved too many risks and unknowns”he explained on the Formula 3 website in 2020.
Piastri finally started karting in 2011, at age 10, thanks to an acquaintance he met while racing radio-controlled cars. After taking part in several competitions at home in Australia, he moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 15 to launch his career in single-seaters. Seven years later, he is the holder of a seat in Formula 1.
Impressive track record in the junior categories
Oscar Piastri did not wait to arrive in Formula 1 to make people talk about him. Engaged in single-seater competitions since 2016, the driver has splashed his talent in the promotion categories. After his victory in Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, he signed with Prema to compete in the Formula 3 championship. He won the title in his first season, three points ahead of Frenchman Théo Pourchaire.
OSCAR PIASTRI
2021 FORMULA 2 CHAMPION #F2 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/2Uaf0VScGR
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) December 11, 2021
Immediately promoted by Prema, Piastri repeated his achievement in Formula 2 the following season, winning the championship ahead of teammate Robert Shwartzman and Guanyu Zhou, subsequently chosen by Alfa Romeo to replace Kimi Raikkonen. With a second title in as many seasons, the Australian is in line with Charles Leclerc and George Russell, who were also crowned champions in quick succession as “rookies” in promotional formulas.
Product of the Renault Academy and then of Alpine
He was tipped to be the next Alpine “crack” on the Formula 1 circuits. Noticed by the diamond brand after his victory in Formula Renault Eurocup at 18, Oscar Piastri was integrated into the fold of the French team at the start of 2020. The Aussie has climbed nearly every rung of the ladder with support from Renault and then Alpine.
After his victory in Formula 3, he took part in his first Formula 1 test in Bahrain in October 2020 in a Renault single-seater. He then took part in the young driver tests in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2021 in the colors of Alpine, before being named reserve driver for the 2022 season.
An incredible arrival at McLaren to debut in F1
But Piastri will not ride for the French team. Announced as a new Alpine driver for next season, on August 1, after the surprise departure of Fernando Alonso, the Australian immediately denied in a rather scathing message: “From what I understand, Alpine, without my consent, put out a press release late this afternoon saying that I was going to ride for them next year. This is untrue and I don’t have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be a driver for Alpine next year.” A snub for the French team.
I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.
—Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022
On September 2, a month later, the International Federation (FIA) validated the contract held by the McLaren team for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, at the expense of that of Alpine. F1’s Contract Recognition Office has therefore paved the way for the official announcement from the British team: “Oscar is one of the most promising talents”welcomed Zack Brown, the boss of McLaren in the press release. “The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance, and I look forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team to the front of the grid.”welcomed the pilot for his part.
Managed by former driver Mark Webber
The young Australian has surrounded himself well on the way to Formula 1. In 2020, he joined the Jam Sports Management agency, created in particular by his compatriot Mark Webber, F1 driver between 2002 and 2013 (215 races and 9 victories ). For two years, he has accompanied Oscar Piastri on the sporting level but also outside the circuit, to defend his interests. He occupied a central place in the negotiations around the arrival of the F2 champion in the premier class at McLaren.
“He is one of the three best junior drivers in the world”said the former Red Bull driver about his protege at the Wide World of Sports website (article in English) in July 2021. “We know he’s good, but he’s shown that he’s just impervious to pressure, he’s been able to perform when needed every weekend.” What create a big expectation before its debut in the queen category.