Oscar Piastri is the youngest driver to have won the F2 championship on debut and has carried that clinical efficiency into Formula 1. The Australian joined McLaren in 2023 and quickly proved he belonged at the sharp end, securing race victories and consistently matching his more experienced teammate Lando Norris.
Heading into 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. At 24, Piastri is entering his prime years with a team ascending alongside him.
Australian fans face the toughest timezone challenge of any major F1 nation. Most European races start between 22:00 and midnight AEST, while the Americas swing means 4:00-6:00 AM starts. The home race at Albert Park in Round 1, with its 15:00 AEDT start, is the one weekend where Australian fans get a civilized viewing time.