Oscar Signs New F1 Deal
Posted on March 12, 2025 Tags: FIA Formula E Championship
Aussie Riding High in 2025
And Lewis all decked out in RED
IT’S BEEN 48 YEARS since an Australian won the FI Drivers’ World Championship, and that was way back when 33-year-old Alan Jones secured the title at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix.
And the only other Aussie to win that coveted title was the legendary Jack Brabham with stirling victories in 1959,1960 and 1966 – the first of which was also secured at the age of 33!
There’s no doubt Perth’s Daniel Ricciardo looked the goods for a world title early in his career with Red Bull, where he scored most of his eight wins. But when he left the team at the end of the 2018 Formula 1 season, his chances slowly but surely eroded.
That move may well be the worst decision of his time in F1. It certainly left the way clear for his partner Max Verstappen to go on in 2024 to notch his fourth world championship!
Oscar on top of the world
This week, the 75th FIA Formula 1 World Championship gets underway at Albert Park, Melbourne’s semi-permanent street circuit, heralding the start of a dramatic 24-race season, visiting five of the world’s seven continents.
Now Aussie Oscar Piastri – Melbourne’s latest superstar – 24 next month, and after just two years in the sport, has emerged as the most likely real prospect to gain that lofty accolade.
Back on home soil, Oscar announced Wednesday he had just re-signed with McLaren until 2028 and hopes to be fighting for the title this year.
The Daily Mail reported Mark Webber’s young man will earn an extraordinary AU$41m (£20m) a year, the same as teammate Lando Norris.
It’s Great to be Oscar in 2025
“It’s great to be part of McLaren’s long-term future. The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible.
Winner in Hungary and Azerbaijan last season as McLaren took their first constructors’ title since 1998, Oscar made his debut with the British-based team in 2023, with a contract through until the end of the 2026 season.
Wednesday’s news followed similar extensions for chief executive Zak Brown, team principal Andrea Stella, Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris and senior staff.
“Not only is he (Oscar) an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya [McLaren’s colours],” said Zak. “He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 constructors’ championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for world championships together. We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track.”
After just two years at McLaren – achieving his first podium at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, and his maiden victory at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix – Oscar is determined to make 2025 his year, alongside teammate Lando Norris.
“There are so many talented and special people working at [the factory] who have helped me to become a Formula 1 race winner very early in my career. … I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come,” said Oscar.
Meanwhile, all on the line for Jack
The only other Aussie on the grid this weekend is Jack Doohan, son of world motorcycle legend Mick. Jack, just 21, made his Formula One debut for Alpine at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He was elevated this year from Reserve Driver to partner Pierre Gasly at Alpine in 2025, given a clear understanding from team boss Flavio Briatore that results are paramount.
No ifs. No buts!
Tim Schenken OAM – a Great Australian
Tim Schenken, one of life’s gentlemen!
NINETEEN Australians have competed in Formula One since the championship began in 1950, including my old mate, Tim Schenken.
Tim raced in 36 Grand Prix events between 1970 and 1974.
And he finished on the podium in the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix.
That accolade places him in the rarefied air of compatriots young gun Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo, as well as World Champions Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.
No slouch, our Tim! He also won the gruelling Nürburgring 1000 km.
It’s all red in ’25 for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerk!
Max – a Fashion Icon?
The flying Dutchman Max Verstappen, buoyed by the recent delivery of his 100ft yacht and his Falcon BX jet, has jumped aboard AlphaTauri – the premium fashion lifestyle brand founded by Red Bull.
He’ll “Showcase AlphaTauri’s style worldwide while travelling to all 24 stops of the 2025 F1 Season”.
AlphaTauri is a partner of the Austrian Olympic Committee for the Olympic Winter Games 2026. @alphatauri
“I’m excited for the new season with AlphaTauri,” said a buoyant Max Verstappen. “Their commitment to combining style with functionality fits perfectly with my lifestyle, both on and off the track.”
Red Bull – Massive hole plugged!
Meanwhile the Red Bull F1 team has plugged a massive budget hole confirming a $150 million multi-year sponsorship deal with cryptocurrency firm Gate.io.
Red Bull had been seeking a replacement to fill the sponsorship void left by Bybit, a deal which concluded at the end of last year.
Gate.io’s branding will feature on Red Bull’s 2025 challenger – the RB21 – as well as team kit and driver and pit crew race suits. It will also adorn Max Verstappen’s helmet.
Increased Aerodynamic Loads
Having “softened up” its compound choices last year, Pirelli has confirmed the same three compounds for the opening round of 2025, with the C3 Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft.
But the tyres themselves have evolved in terms of both construction and compound – slightly modified to handle the increased aerodynamic loads likely to be generated by the final version of the current generation of cars.
The C3, the most versatile in terms of balance and degradation, is substantially the same as the version used for the previous two seasons.
The C4 has been modified to reduce the possibility of graining on the tread surface, as well as minimising degradation, something that has also been applied to the C5 in order to expand its use as a suitable race tyre.
In the recent Bahrain pre-season test, the C3 did the most work, completing over two thirds of the total mileage and delivering the teams essential data.
Minimum changes to Circuit
At Albert Park last year, the most popular strategy was a two-stop, with the Hard doing most of the work, completing 80% of all the laps, with an average stint length of 22 laps.
Only three drivers opted to start on the Soft, with a longest stint of seven laps, while two drivers lined up on Hard tyres, making the Medium compound the most popular tyre on the grid, with 15 starters.
The 5.275km long Albert Park track has not changed since it was renewed in 2022 and is not considered too harsh on tyres.
The circuit combines fast straights with low to medium speed technical corners and some heavy braking points.
The only modification to the track layout – which features some sections made up of roads usually open to normal traffic – comes at turns 6 and 7 where the barriers and kerbs have been modified, to avoid a repetition of some past accidents.
Something new on the Podium
The Australian Grand Prix podium ceremony marks the start of a collaboration between Pirelli and famous designer Denis Dekovic, who will produce 14 different looks for this year’s Podium Cap, to be worn by the top three finishers at each round. Dekovic paying homage to the traditions and cultural identity of the country hosting the Grand Prix through the use of colour and materials.
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
Summer has morphed into autumn at this time of year in Australia and Melbourne weather can be very changeable, with big swings in temperature from one day to the next and rain has been known to put in an appearance.
Mind you, on Monday the forecast for Melbourne on Saturday was 39 degrees! But it’s looking quite benign at the moment.
It’s the 39th AGP
This weekend is the 39th edition of the Australian Grand Prix: the first 11, from 1985 to 1995, took place in Adelaide – until Melbourne nicked the event!
Albert Park has been the venue since1996 onwards, except for the Covid dramas in 2020 and 2021 when the race was not held.
Michael Schumacher tops the list of all-time winners in Australia on four, followed by Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, equal on three.
A further 20 drivers have won in Australia, making it one of the races with the highest number of different winners. But only 15 have ever started from pole, with Lewis Hamilton leading the way on eight, followed by Ayrton Senna on six.
McLaren and Ferrari are the most successful teams, with 11 wins apiece. By finishing first and second in 2024, Ferrari is now the team with the most podium finishes (28) overtaking McLaren (27).
PERTH, WA TIME
Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit | 14 – 16 March
Practice 1 Friday 14th March 09:30
Practice 2 Friday 14th March 13:00
Practice 3 Saturday 15th March 09:30
Qualifying Saturday 15th March 13:00
RACE Sunday 16th March 12:00
NEXT EVENT
Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai International Circuit | 21 – 23 March
EDITED by AC
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