The wait is finally over.
Oscar Piastri will drive in Formula One next year.
News broke overnight on Friday that prestigious F1 team McLaren had signed the exciting prospect on a multi-year deal.
The youngster’s promising career, which features successive championship glory in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 2, will reach another much-deserved highlight when he dons papaya colours in 2023.
It always seemed destined to happen, but for so many of Piastri’s family in the Goulburn Valley, it was an anxious wait to see if the Aussie motorsport wiz would live out his childhood dream.
Piastri, the reigning F2 champion, sent the F1 world into a spin with his statement that he would not race for Alpine in 2023 — despite the team announcing he would replace Fernando Alonso.
Since that episode in early August, the discussion on which team Piastri would drive for next season has dominated headlines.
All arrows pointed to a Piastri and McLaren union.
Finally, the question to which team won the 21-year-old’s services was finally answered after the F1’s Contract Recognition Board ruled that McLaren had the valid contract with the sport’s emerging star.
The young gun told F1’s website at the weekend that he was happy to look forward now and he could put the past few months behind him.
“I’m glad that I finally got announced as a McLaren driver for next year and we are now looking forward to the future ahead,” Piastri said.
“I’m still reserve with Alpine and I’m happy to carry out those duties still, but it’s a discussion that we need to have between myself and the team. We’ll see how that looks and then obviously super excited to be joining the grid with McLaren next season.”
The Alpine reserve driver went on to highlight why he decided to pursue his options.
With Alpine wanting to stick with Alonso for what many predicted to be a one-year deal with an option for a second, Piastri and his management began to take calls from rival F1 teams.
“The CRB ruling has confirmed I didn’t have a contract for the 2023 season (with Alpine),” Piastri said.
“I was free to choose my destiny – and I felt McLaren was a great opportunity. They were very straightforward and very keen and enthusiastic to have me. To be completely honest, there was a lack of clarity around my future at the team at Alpine.
“They publicly stated they wished to continue with Fernando for at least one or two more years. I respect that. But after spending the year out, my hopes were firmly set on an Alpine seat and the lack of clarity and, similarly to Fernando, a bit of a strange feeling in negotiations, it didn’t feel like it was the right decision for me (to stay around).
“The lack of clarity around my future and, ultimately, a breakdown in trust, I felt the very attractive offer of McLaren and the positive dealings with them thus far were all reasons why I felt McLaren was where I was best off for the future.”