Oscar Piastri eyes maiden Formula 1 world championship after re-signing for McLaren

Oscar Piastri has declared he can become Formula 1 world champion this year, saying he had all the tools he needed to be the sport’s best as he locked in his long-term future with McLaren.

Oscar Piastri has declared he can become Formula 1 world champion this year, saying he now had all the tools he needed to be the sport’s best as he locked in his long-term future with McLaren.

Fresh from inking a multi-year contract extension with McLaren, the Australian star said he was confident he could take his racing to another level in 2025 following his first two grand prix victories last year with the world constructors’ champions.

Just days out from Piastri’s home race at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the papaya squad announced on Wednesday it had acted early to lock in the hometown hero’s services for the foreseeable future.

Now, Piastri is determined to deliver on the partnership with his sights on a maiden world championship as early as this season.

READ MORE: F1 legend growing ‘brand Piastri’ into Australia’s hottest commodity

Race fans cheering on Oscar Piastri ahead of his first race of 2025. Picture: David Caird

Fourth in the drivers’ championship last season when he claimed wins in Hungary and in Azerbaijan, Piastri was forthright when asked if he could be world champion this year.

“I think I can be,” Piastri said on Wednesday.

“It’s going to be a year of hard work and it’s going to be an incredibly tight year, it’s probably going to be even tighter than it was at the end of last season.

“Every weekend there could have been any from the top four teams trying to win each weekend, so it is going to be tough, definitely.

“But I feel like I have all the tools I need now to go out there and try and win a championship.

“I think for me, winning a championship is not something new from my junior career, obviously it is very different to try and do it in Formula 1.

“But I have had that experience before, I know what it takes and I think I have all the tools I need to try and achieve a championship this year.”

Piastri joined McLaren in 2023 and the team quickly extended his initial deal with the team later that year until the end of 2026.

Dubbed a future world champion in his rookie season after a stellar junior career, Piastri proved his status as one the sport’s hottest young talents on the grid as he helped steer McLaren to its first constructor’s championship in 25 years last season.

The 23-year-old said he was excited to lock in his future with McLaren and chase more success together.

READ MORE: Why an F1 legend thinks Piastri can break Australia’s GP drought

Oscar Piastri in action during testing at Bahrain. Picture: Getty Images

“I think I still had two more seasons left (on my contract), but we have gone early and extended it even further, so I am really excited,” Piastri said at a team’s sponsor’s event for Jack Daniels.

“Last year was a phenomenal year. Even my first year with the team, we started on a bit of a low, but we found our feet half-way through the season.

“I think for myself and then the team, in both directions, our aim is to try and lock our future together for the long term.

“So I am very excited to be in Papaya for many, many years to come and hopefully more success from now on.”

As he chases a first Australian Grand Prix victory at Albert Park this week, Piastri said he had proven to himself last year that he had the skills to be the best in F1.

“I think I can and I sure hope so. I think last year on my better weekends, I think I proved – maybe to myself – that I had what it took to be the best,” Piastri said.

“I think this year it is about trying to make sure that I do that every weekend.

“Make sure … that there is nothing left on the table each weekend.

“I feel like I don’t necessarily need to take a step up, it’s just about trying to make sure I have every weekend at my best is probably the biggest thing this year.”

Oscar Piastri has re-signed on a multi-year deal with McLaren. Picture: Getty Images

Piastri finished eighth in his first home race in Melbourne in 2023 and was fourth last year.

He said he did not feel burdened by extra pressure to deliver in front of his home crowd and would lap up the extra fan support.

“I think there is always a bit of added expectation at home and I think for any driver on the grid, you always want to win your home race if you can,” Piastri said.

“There is not really pressure I would say, just a lot of home support which is really good to have.

“Having Australia back at round one is really special, it’s how I remember it growing up as a kid, so having the home support is going to be a massive boost rather than added pressure.”

Originally published as Oscar Piastri eyes maiden Formula 1 world championship after re-signing for McLaren