McLaren CEO Zak Brown has explained why Oscar Piastri was instructed to “hold position” when closing in on Lando Norris at the Australian Grand Prix. After getting by Max Verstappen on Lap 17, Piastri reeled Norris in with a series of fastest laps.

McLaren secured their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 a year ago, and the season ended with either Norris or Piastri on the top step of the podium in four of the fin

McLaren have re-signed Oscar Piastri on a new contract extension, two full seasons before his current deal was due to expire.

Wearing McLaren orange under soaking plastic ponchos, fans turned up in droves to the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on Sunday with hope of seeing Oscar Piastri end the nation's 40-year wait for a home winner.

McLaren announced a new “multi-year” contract extension with Piastri on Tuesday, days before the 2025 F1 season begins at his home race, the Australian Grand Prix. Piastri’s contract was due to run out at the end of the 2026 season, but now both he and Norris will be with the team through 2027.

Whilst Lando Norris secured the first win of the year, the Australian Grand Prix will be remembered for McLaren's demand for Oscar Piastri to 'hold his position' against his team-mate, contrasting with Zak Brown's message that his drivers are free to race.

McLaren are confident competition between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will not endanger the team's Formula One championship defence if the drivers find themselves battling for the individual title.

Oscar Piastri is quietly confident he can become the first Aussie driver to win the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. He's aiming for it this weekend.

McLaren believe Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri can co-exist without problems as the team goes into the new season as favourites.

After helping McLaren to a constructor's championship in 2024, Oscar Piastri was rewarded with a multi-year contract worth nearly $26 million per year, according to Racing News 365. The new deal replaces Piastri's contract that ran through 2026 and was set to pay him over $7 million per season.