Biography of Oscar Piastri
Born in Melbourne, Australia, on April 6, 2001, Oscar Jack Piastri is a young and talented driver who has quickly established himself as a rising star in Formula 1. Now 23 years old, Piastri plots his way through his second season with McLaren, and his future in the sport looks incredibly bright.
Oscar Piastri before F1
Oscar Piastri's journey to the pinnacle of motorsport began on the karting tracks of Australia. His talent quickly became evident, leading him to compete in European championships.
At the age of 15, he relocated to the United Kingdom and made his single-seater debut in the Formula 4 UAE Championship.
A promising start with two podiums and a sixth-place finish in the F4 UAE Championship paved the way for his move to the more competitive British F4 series.
In British F4, Piastri's talent truly blossomed. He finished as runner-up, securing six wins and six pole positions with the TRS Arden Junior Racing team in 2017.
Piastri's ascent continued in the Formula Renault Eurocup. After a solid ninth place in the 2018 season, he joined R-ace GP and secured the championship title in 2019 after a string of victories.
In 2020, Piastri moved up to Formula 3, joining the Prema Racing team. Despite a delayed start due to the pandemic, he quickly made his mark, securing his first victory in the season-opening race in Austria.
Piastri continued to impress throughout the season, securing another win at the sprint race in Spain and ultimately claiming the F3 championship title by a narrow margin after a dramatic final race.
His impressive performance earned him a spot in the Renault Sport Academy and his first taste of F1 machinery with a test for the outfit.
In 2021, Piastri stepped up to Formula 2, replacing the 2020 champion Mick Schumacher. He claimed his first F2 victory in the second sprint race of the season.
Piastri continued to impress in F2, securing podium finishes and feature race victories throughout the season. He ultimately sealed the championship title, cementing his status as one of the most promising young drivers in motorsport.
Oscar Piastri in F1
After winning the F2 championship, Piastri found himself without a race seat for the following season. However, he remained active as a reserve driver for Alpine after graduating from the Alpine Academy, while also being available to McLaren in the same capacity through an agreement between the two teams.
Piastri's name became a hot topic in the summer of 2022 when Fernando Alonso announced his departure to Aston Martin, opening up a coveted seat at Alpine.
The French team wasted no time in announcing Piastri as Alonso's replacement. But in a surprising turn of events, Piastri took to social media to contradict the announcement, stating that he had not signed for the team.
This sparked a contract controversy, with Piastri ultimately agreeing to a deal with McLaren to replace Daniel Ricciardo.
The contract dispute escalated to the Contract Recognition Board, which ruled in favour of McLaren. This paved the way for Piastri to officially join the Woking-based team in 2023.
In his debut season in F1, Piastri secured a remarkable ninth place in the drivers' standings with a tally of 97 points.
He claimed a sprint race victory in Qatar and two podium finishes in Qatar and Japan, becoming the first rookie since Lewis Hamilton in 2007 to achieve multiple podiums.
To cap off his stunning rookie season, he was named FIA's Rookie of the Year.