Oscar Piastri drives car #81 for McLaren in 2026, with 5 race victories and 18 podiums through the end of 2025. Born in Melbourne on April 6, 2001, he won the F3 and F2 championships in consecutive debut seasons (2020 and 2021) before joining McLaren in 2023.
Piastri won his maiden F1 race at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix and quickly added further victories, establishing himself as a driver capable of winning consistently at the highest level. His junior career record of back-to-back championship titles on debut remains one of the most impressive feats in modern motorsport feeder series history. He has consistently matched or challenged his more experienced teammate Lando Norris.
For 2026, Piastri enters his fourth season with McLaren and is no longer the new arrival. He is a proven race winner and a central pillar of McLaren’s championship ambitions. The regulation changes create a level playing field, and Piastri’s methodical approach to extracting performance could give him an edge during the early rounds when teams are still learning their cars.
His racecraft, particularly his overtaking precision and tyre management, has drawn comparisons to some of the sport’s greats. Piastri’s ability to execute clean overtakes without excessive aggression produces consistent results with minimal risk. At 24, he is entering his prime years with a team that has built its future around him.
Australian fans face tough timezone offsets for most of the calendar. European races start between 22:00 and midnight AEST, while the Americas swing means 4:00 to 6:00 AM starts. The home race at Albert Park for the Australian Grand Prix in Round 1, with its 15:00 AEDT start, is the most accessible weekend. Check Australia time for full timezone details.
Piastri’s trajectory mirrors McLaren’s own resurgence. From a team fighting for midfield points to genuine championship contenders, both driver and constructor have grown together, making the Norris-Piastri pairing one of the most compelling partnerships heading into the new regulation era.