Oscar Piastri extends with McLaren, calling it an obvious choice. Despite strong form, he dismisses talk of Red Bull-style dominance.
Piastri isn’t going anywhere. On the eve of his home Grand Prix in Australia, McLaren confirmed the young Aussie will be staying with the team for years to come.
Already under contract until the end of 2025, McLaren locked him in for even longer, shutting down transfer rumours before they could take off.
One rumour, however, has slipped through: Piastri is reportedly now earning the same as teammate Lando Norris—around €20 million per year. If true, it could make team orders easier to accept when the time comes.
McLaren, as expected, had nothing to say on the matter.
For Piastri, the decision to extend was a no-brainer.
“I was already signed for this year and next, but committing for even longer just felt natural,” he said during Thursday’s FIA press conference.
“Last year was incredible for the team. From my arrival to winning the Constructors’ Championship, my time with McLaren has been amazing.”
“Keeping this momentum going and helping to push the team forward makes perfect sense. Lando and I have been here a while, Andrea Stella (team principal) has a long-term deal, as do Zak Brown (CEO) and the key technical staff.”
No Home Win Guarantee
With McLaren tipped as one of the frontrunners in Melbourne, is Piastri dreaming of a victory in front of his home crowd?
“I know what you want me to say, and everyone’s talking about it, but we’ll see. No one really knows what to expect,” he admitted.
“Testing went well, but you never truly know where everyone stands. Melbourne is a totally different track from Bahrain, the weather is unpredictable, and judging by the forecasts, it could change by the hour. It’s going to be an interesting weekend.”
“We expect to be at the front, maybe even leading the pack, but Saturday will give us a clearer picture.”
McLaren Won’t Be the New Red Bull
While McLaren looks strong, Piastri has already shut down any talk of dominance similar to Red Bull’s in recent years.
“No, I don’t think so. It would be great to reach that level of success—every team and driver dreams of it.”
“But given where we are in the current regulations and how last season played out, expecting that would be pretty naïve. If anything, I think this year will be even closer than the second half of last season.”
“Our goal is to be on top in 2025, but with new regulations coming in next year, the pecking order is likely to shift again.”
“The circumstances aren’t the same as Red Bull’s, but this season will be just as competitive. As much as I’d love to dominate, it’s going to be very, very tough.”
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Piastri Commits to McLaren: No Red Bull-Style Dominance Ahead Piastri Commits to McLaren: No Red Bull-Style Dominance Ahead
