Oscar Piastri signs as McLaren F1 driver for 2023 season

Oscar Piastri will be driving for McLaren in Formula 1 next season after the team confirmed the signing of the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Champion, who becomes the first Champion of the third tier of junior motorsport to make the step-up.

Piastri has signed with the team on a multi-year deal to line up alongside 2018 Formula 2 Vice Champion Lando Norris for the foreseeable future as part of F1’s youngest driver line up.

“I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me,” Piastri said. “The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance, and I’m looking forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team towards the front of the grid. I’m focused on preparing for my F1 debut in 2023 and starting my F1 career in papaya.”

Piastri secured the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup, 2020 FIA F3 and 2021 FIA Formula 2 titles consecutively, following in the footsteps of Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

“The entire team is delighted to welcome Oscar to McLaren for the 2023 F1 season," said McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl.

"He has an impressive racing career to date, and we are sure that together with Lando, he will be able to help us move another step forward towards our ambitions. We still have an important job to do this season which the team remains focused on, before we will then ensure Oscar is integrated into the team as quickly as possible and ready for the challenges ahead. We look forward to preparing for an exciting 2023 season together.”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown added that the performances in both F3 and F2 had made him one of the most exciting prospects in single seater racing.

“Oscar is one of the up-and-coming talents coming through the feeder series into F1 and we are delighted to see him join the team for 2023. Winning both F3 and F2 in successive rookie seasons is a real achievement and testament to his talent in single-seater racing. In Lando and Oscar we have a young, exciting F1 line-up with a huge amount of potential, standing us in good stead to achieve our future ambitions. Oscar is an exciting addition to the McLaren family, and we look forward to seeing him grow with our F1 team.”