Oscar Piastri has signed a contract extension with McLaren that will keep him with the team until at least 2028.
Piastri started racing for McLaren in 2023 having signed the previous year, and has agreed a new multi-year deal on top of his current contract which runs until 2026.
The announcement, which comes ahead of this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports, means Piastri and Lando Norris will be team-mates at McLaren for the next three seasons, as Norris’ contract expires at the end of 2027.
“It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision. 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,” said Piastri.
“There are so many talented and special people working at MTC who have helped me to become a Formula 1 race winner very early in my career. Therefore, 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.”
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri say they have a ‘lot of confidence’ in themselves to fight for a F1 championship title this season
Piastri has won two races in his F1 career, last year’s Hungarian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, and is among the title favourites for this season with McLaren expected to have a strong car.
McLaren are the reigning constructors’ champions and chief executive Zak Brown says his team have the best driver pairing on the grid.
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“It’s fantastic to confirm Oscar’s extension with McLaren. Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya,” said Brown.
“We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track.
“He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for World Championships together.”
Karun Chandhok takes a look back at the Azerbaijan GP to see how Oscar Piastri claimed victory
Will Piastri and Norris continue to work in unison?
Norris and Piastri appear to have a good relationship in the two seasons spent together as team-mates but there were tense moments last year.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris was told repeatedly to let Piastri through during the latter stages of the race after he undercut his team-mate in the pit stops. Eventually, Norris let Piastri through with three laps to go so the Australian won his maiden F1 race.
Listen in on the radio messages from McLaren throughout the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, which was controversially won by Oscar Piastri
Six weeks later in Monza, Piastri overtook Norris on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix when the pair were in first and second. In doing so, Norris also lost out to Charles Leclerc and the Ferrari driver went on to take victory.
After that incident, McLaren declared Norris would get priority for the remainder of the season due to his position in the Drivers’ Championship. However, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Norris slowed down Sergio Perez to help Piastri and the latter won the race.
“Further extending our partnership with Oscar is a symbol of our belief and trust in him as a driver, as well as a reflection of our shared ambition to continue in our fight for Championships together,” said team principal Andrea Stella.
“It has been a pleasure working with Oscar throughout the past two seasons and he has continued to prove how impressive he is in terms of his talent, determination and work ethic as a driver and his contribution to our team and culture as a person.
“Alongside Lando, we have what we need locked in for the long term to keep pushing forward. I look forward to continuing to watch Oscar grow and develop as a driver and know that many successes lie ahead for him.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Australian GP schedule
Thursday March 13
- 2.30am: Drivers’ Press Conference
- 5am: The F1 Show: Lights Out 2025*
- 9.45pm: F3 Practice
- 10.55pm: F2 Practice
Friday March 14
- 1am: Australian GP Practice One (session begins at 1.30am)*
- 2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
- 3.40am: Team Principals’ Press Conference
- 4.45am: Australian GP Practice Two (session begins at 5am)*
- 6.25am: F2 Qualifying*
- 7.15am: The F1 Show*
Saturday March 15
- 12.10am: F3 Sprint*
- 1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session begins at 1.30am)*
- 3.10am: F2 Sprint*
- 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
- 5am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
- 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
7.30am: Australian GP Qualifying Replay* (9am on Sky Showcase) - 9.55pm: F3 Feature Race*
Sunday March 16
- 12.25am: F2 Feature Race*
- 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
- 7am: Ted’s Notebook*
- 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky Showcase)
- 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
