Stella and Brown happy with contract extension Piastri: 'Really an asset'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
It was announced on Wednesday that McLaren and Oscar Piastri will be linked for longer. The Australian made his F1 debut with the British racing stable this season and will drive for the Woking-based team until 2026. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella and McLaren CEO Zak Brown are very happy with the retention of the talented driver.
Brown: 'Piastri is an incredible talent'
In 2022, McLaren and Alpine went hard at war with each other to capture the Australian, and in the end the British team pulled the longest straw in the process. At least the contract extension went a lot smoother for McLaren. Commenting, Brown said he was very happy with the longer commitment.
"I’m delighted to be continuing our partnership with Oscar through to the end of 2026. He’s an incredible talent and an asset to the team so it’s fantastic to be committing to each other in the long term. Oscar is already proving what he can do out on track and has been instrumental in the turnaround we’ve had so far this season. He’s fitted into the team brilliantly and is really valued by the whole McLaren Racing family. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow both on and off track."
Stella: 'Was an easy decision'
Team boss Stella is also hugely pleased that Piastri will stay with McLaren for longer: "It’s fantastic to confirm that Oscar has signed a multi-year extension with the team. Oscar is an asset to McLaren and constantly impresses with his performance, work ethic and attitude, so it was an easy decision for the team to make. He has already proved pivotal to the team, so it’s brilliant to have his vote of confidence as we push to win championships again in the future. I look forward to seeing him develop with us as we continue this journey together."