The first time Oscar Piastri arrived at the Miami Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver he was in the slowest car in the field and only narrowly avoided finishing last. Fast-forward two years and Piastri and McLaren Racing have come full circle.

A contract saga took place over the summer of 2022 when Piastri, then Alpine’s reserve driver after winning back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2, was announced as Fernando Alonso ’s replacement following the two-time world champion’s shock decision to quit and join rivals Aston Martin.

McLaren’s championship leader produced a brilliant victory, in Formula One’s first of three visits to the United States in 2025