McLaren sign Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - McLaren signed 2021 FIA Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri, the team announced on Friday.

The 21-year-old Australian driver will join Lando Norris to complete the McLaren F1 team in the 2023 season.

"I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me," Piastri said. "The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance, and I’m looking forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team towards the front of the grid."

Andreas Seidl, team principal of McLaren F1, welcomed Piastri for the 2023 season.

"He has an impressive racing career to date, and we are sure that together with Lando, he will be able to help us move another step forward towards our ambitions," he said.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, said: "Oscar is one of the up-and-coming talents coming through the feeder series into F1 and we are delighted to see him join the team for 2023. Winning both F3 and F2 in successive rookie seasons is a real achievement and testament to his talent in single-seater racing."

Piastri won the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship and 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship in consecutive Rookie seasons after the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup victory.