McLaren ace Oscar Piastri celebrates huge personal news

Oscar Piastri has every reason to smile after some huge news dropped at the end of the Aussie’s successful F1 season with McLaren.

Oscar Piastri is celebrating some huge personal news after the completion of his second season on the Formula 1 grid.

The Australian enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, winning his first two Grand Prix races and helping McLaren seal a drought-breaking constructors’ championship.

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Now it has been revealed the 23-year-old, who is contracted to the English racing outfit through the 2026 season, is racing up the list of top earners in the glamour sport.

Salaries are higher than ever on the 20-man F1 grid, with owner Liberty Media’s revenue hitting $5 billion in 2023, a 25% increase on the previous year, according to its earnings release.

It’s no surprise to see Max Verstappen top the earning list, after claiming his fourth consecutive world title in 2024.

Oscar Piastri won his first two races in 2024. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

For a third straight year, the Dutchman is the highest paid driver, taking home an estimated $118 million this year, with $23.5 million in bonuses alongside his eye-watering $94 million salary.

That leaves the 27-year-old $28 million ahead of No. 2 Lewis Hamilton ($89m), widening a gap that was $23.5 million in 2023 and $7.8 million in 2022.

Despite being a relative newcomer at the top level of the sport, Piastri has rocketed up to seventh in earnings, driven by a stunning return in bonus payments from McLaren.

While his $10 million base salary puts him outside the top 10 drivers, the young Aussie ace pocketed a cool $26 million in bonuses after finishing a lofty fourth in the standings, with eight podiums added to his two race wins.

McLaren also earned a first constructors’ title since way back in 1998.

Australian F1 driver Oscar Piastri and girlfriend Lily Zneimer. Photo: Instagram.

Verstappen topped the earnings list for the third straight year. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

In addition to his racing prowess, Piastri has also earned fans over some of his comments during this season’s title race.

Piastri has a cheeky side and doesn’t take matters too seriously in such a cutthroat sport, as noted by his response to Verstappen taking him out on Turn 1 of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Monday (AEDT).

The Red Bull champ tried to sneak on the inside of Piastri and it ended disastrously for both drivers, with Verstappen nudging the side of Piastri’s car and sending both of them spinning.

“Yep, move of a world champion there,” Piastri said on his team radio, dripping with sarcasm.

To his credit, the Dutchman apologised for the move after the race.

“Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it,” said Verstappen.

“I’m just happy that the season is over. For me, the most important thing that I had to do was just apologise to Oscar.

Lando Norris, Piastri and the McLaren team celebrate winning the 2024 F1 Constructors’ title. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

“Because I had nothing to gain, nothing to lose. I went for it. It didn’t work out. And especially also for him, that we both spun. It’s not nice.

“He’s a friend of mine so I don’t want to have any weird feelings or whatever going into the break.”

Piastri’s overall earnings of $36 million in 2024 put him ahead of F1 veterans Carlos Sainz ($30m) and Sergio Perez ($30.6m).

The Victorian’s teammate Lando Norris ($54m), Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ($43m) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ($42m) round out the top five.

The top 10 earners pocketed a stunning $497 million combined.

– Figures courtesy of The Sun

Originally published as McLaren ace Oscar Piastri celebrates huge personal news