Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Oscar Piastri

Discover the career path of Oscar Piastri, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Oscar Piastri is an Australian racing driver currently competing in Formula One for McLaren. He is known for his success in the sport, including winning six Formula One Grands Prix across three seasons. Piastri's career highlights his skill and achievements in motorsports.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1998: McLaren wins the World Constructors' Championship

In 2024, McLaren won their first World Constructors' Championship since 1998, with contributions from Oscar Piastri.

2010: Piastri leads the World Drivers' Championship

In 2025, Piastri took another victory in Saudi Arabia to become the first Australian to lead the World Drivers' Championship since 2010.

2011: Started Karting Career

In 2011, Oscar Piastri started his karting career.

2014: Competed in Australian races and championships

In 2014, Oscar Piastri went professional and competed in various Australian races and championships.

2016: Competed in European and CIK-FIA karting championships

In 2016, Oscar Piastri began competing in European and other CIK-FIA sanctioned karting championships with Ricky Flynn Motorsport and moved to the United Kingdom to further his racing career, finishing sixth in the 2016 World Championship in Bahrain.

2016: Started competing in junior formulae

In 2016, Oscar Piastri graduated to junior formulae in racing.

2016: First major sponsorship and single-seater debut

In early 2016, Oscar Piastri landed his first major sponsorship, HP Tuners. Later in 2016, Piastri made his single-seater debut in selected rounds of the Formula 4 UAE Championship with Dragon F4, claiming two podiums to take sixth in the championship.

2017: Rookie's Podium Finish

In 2017, Lance Stroll's podium finish marked the last time a rookie achieved such a feat until Oscar Piastri's achievement.

2017: Runner-up in British F4 Championship

In 2017, Oscar Piastri was named as part of the TRS Arden Junior Racing Team's line-up for the British F4 championship, claiming six wins and six pole positions to finish as runner-up to Jamie Caroline.

December 2018: Participated in GP3 Series post-season test

In December 2018, Oscar Piastri took part in the GP3 Series post-season test at Yas Marina with Trident.

December 2018: Switched to R-ace GP for 2019 championship

In December 2018, it was announced Oscar Piastri would switch to reigning team champions R-ace GP for the 2019 championship.

October 2019: Joined FIA Formula 3 post-season test

In October 2019, Oscar Piastri joined the post-season test with reigning FIA Formula 3 team champions Prema Racing.

2019: Won Formula Renault Eurocup Championship

In 2019, Oscar Piastri claimed his first victory in the series at Silverstone and repeated with a second win at the same venue a day later. He became the first driver to win three races in 2019 after taking victory at Spa-Francorchamps in July, and became the champion after taking a win and fourth place at the final round at Yas Marina.

2019: Won Formula Renault Eurocup

In 2019, Oscar Piastri won the Formula Renault Eurocup with R-ace GP.

January 2020: Joined Renault Sport Academy

In January 2020, Oscar Piastri became a member of the Renault Sport Academy three months after clinching the Formula Renault Eurocup.

January 2020: Signed with Prema Racing for FIA Formula 3

In January 2020, Oscar Piastri signed with Prema Racing to contest the upcoming season, alongside Logan Sargeant and 2019 Formula Regional European champion Frederik Vesti.

December 2020: Joined Prema Racing in Formula 2

In December 2020, Oscar Piastri announced that he would continue with Prema Racing into Formula 2, replacing the departing Mick Schumacher and partnering Ferrari Driver Academy member Robert Shwartzman for the 2021 season.

2020: Joined Alpine Academy

In 2020, Oscar Piastri became a member of the Alpine Academy.

2020: Won FIA Formula 3 Championship

In 2020, Oscar Piastri won the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema Racing.

2021: Retained place at Alpine Academy

In 2021, Oscar Piastri retained his place at the re-branded Alpine Academy, for whom he tested the A521 at the Yas Marina post-season test, as well as the R.S.18 again at Silverstone and Monza.

2021: Formula 2 season

In 2021, Oscar Piastri started the Formula 2 season and won his first Formula 2 race.

2021: Won FIA Formula 2 Championship

In 2021, Oscar Piastri won the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing, becoming the sixth driver in history to win the GP2/Formula 2 title in their rookie season.

June 2022: Offered seat with Williams for 2023

In June 2022, Oscar Piastri was offered a seat with Williams for 2023 on a two-year loan from Alpine.

September 2022: Red Bull Racing missed chance to sign Piastri

In September 2022, Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner revealed that he missed a chance to sign Piastri to their junior team during his Formula 4 years.

2022: Reserve driver for Alpine and McLaren

In 2022, Oscar Piastri was appointed the reserve driver of Alpine and was also made available in the role for McLaren following an agreement between the two teams. He completed around 3,000 km of further private tests in the A521 throughout the season.

2022: Left Alpine Academy

In 2022, Oscar Piastri's membership with the Alpine Academy concluded.

2023: Rejection of Alpine and move to McLaren

In 2023, Oscar Piastri rejected Alpine's announcement that he would be driving for them and stated he had not signed a contract, later emerging that he was in talks with McLaren.

2023: Signed for McLaren

In 2023, Oscar Piastri signed for McLaren and had performance concerns with the MCL60 and secured a maiden sprint victory in Qatar.

2023: Piastri denies driving for Alpine in 2023

In 2023, Oscar Piastri stated that he had not signed a contract with Alpine and would not be driving for them.

2023: Signed McLaren contract

In 2023, the FIA Contract Recognition Board ruled against Alpine, and it was announced that Piastri would join McLaren. The CRB revealed that Piastri had signed his McLaren contract almost a month prior to the Alpine announcement.

2024: Maiden Victory in Hungary

In 2024, Oscar Piastri achieved his maiden victory in Hungary, becoming the fifth Australian driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix, and repeated this feat in Azerbaijan.

2024: 2024 Formula One Season

In 2024, Oscar Piastri began the Formula One season with an eighth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, followed by two fourth-place finishes. He later secured eighth place again at the Japanese and Chinese Grand Prix. At the Miami Grand Prix, a collision resulted in a thirteenth-place finish, while his teammate won. He achieved second place in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix but finished fourth due to a grid penalty. At the Monaco Grand Prix, Piastri qualified and finished second. He finished second in both the sprint and main race at the Austrian Grand Prix. He later achieved his maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, becoming the fifth Australian to win a Formula One Grand Prix. He finished second in Belgium after a disqualification for another driver and finished fourth at the Dutch Grand Prix. He also finished second at the Italian Grand Prix, achieved another victory in Azerbaijan, and took third in Singapore. He ended the 2024 season fourth in the World Drivers' Championship, helping McLaren win their first World Constructors' Championship since 1998.

2024: Improved Race Pace Development

Throughout 2024, Oscar Piastri was noted for his race pace development, leading to his maiden victories in Hungary and Azerbaijan. Luke Smith of The New York Times described the latter as a "coming-of-age drive".

2025: Achievements as of 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

As of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Piastri has achieved five race wins, two pole positions, four fastest laps and 14 podiums in Formula One.

2025: Eradication of Tyre Management and Qualifying Pace Issues

By 2025, Jake Boxall-Legge of Autosport opined that Oscar Piastri had eradicated the tyre management and qualifying pace issues he experienced in his earlier seasons, further highlighting his adaptability.

2025: 2025 Season Expectations and Contract Extension

In 2025, McLaren entered as title favorites with Piastri expected to challenge his teammate for the World Drivers' Championship. Three days prior to the start of the 2025 campaign, McLaren announced a multi-year contract extension with Piastri until at least the end of the 2028 season. He also claimed his first victory of the season in Chinese Grand Prix.