New Delhi: In a landmark moment for Australian motorsports, Melbourne-born Formula One racer Oscar Piastri will get his grandstand at next year’s Australian Grand Prix.
Piastri, 24, is at the top of this season’s drivers’ championship, leading his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris by nine points with 10 races to go and has been the racer to beat in Formula One this season.
With six victories so far in 2025, the young racer has already won more grands prix in a single season than any other Australian driver since the world championship began in 1950.
“It feels very surreal and I never thought this would happen, but the support is incredible and I can’t wait to see it all come together next March,” he said on X.
Only gone and got a grandstand pic.twitter.com/hoioxpPhpK
— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 18, 2025
The grandstand will be on the main straight, opposite the pit lane.
“Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I’m really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere,” he added.
2026 season to open on March 6 at Albert Park
The 2026 season opener will be held at Albert Park in Melbourne from 6-8 March 2026.
Piastri, who has eight career victories in total, is yet to make the podium in three attempts in Australia. He will be eager to mark the occasion with a win next year. The Aussie youngster is not the first racer on the grid with dedicated grandstands.
Piastri’s McLaren teammate Norris and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton each have stands at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has grandstands across the European leg of the Formula One calendar, including at his home track Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Other Australian drivers to have the grandstands named after them at Albert Park are three-time world champion Jack Brabham, 1980 title-winner Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber.