Oscar Piastri's journey from Melbourne kid to newest Australian F1 star

Melbourne is back to host another Formula 1 season opener and there’s one man who will be taking centre stage all weekend long. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is a Melbourne native, so the Australian Grand Prix is always special, and after last year’s stellar campaign that saw the 24-year-old take seven wins, Piastri will be returning to Albert Park as a certified F1 superstar.

But it’s not been an easy ride to the top of motorsport – with challenges coming from growing up in Australia, moving across the world as a teenager, and battling through the junior categories. Let’s break down Piastri’s journey to becoming Australia’s latest F1 hero and how fans are celebrating him at Albert Park this weekend...

Melbourne man

From Melbourne’s backyard to fighting for the title at the peak of motorsport, Piastri’s rise has been anything but ordinary when compared with many of his European counterparts on the grid. Growing up just a stone's throw away from Albert Park, as a youngster he remembers hearing the roar of F1 cars powering around during the Australian Grand Prix weekend.

Being a young F1 enthusiast living in Australia presented its challenges. Because of the time difference, most of his earliest memories of the sport were simply catching up on highlights. However, Piastri had the racing bug, and he had a feeling that F1 could be a possibility for him in the future.

A different kind of racing champion

Long before he reached F1, Piastri was already winning titles, just not behind the wheel of a car. As a child in Melbourne, he competed in remote-control car racing and quickly proved he had a knack for it, becoming national RC champion aged nine.

It might sound like an unusual start for a future F1 driver, but the skills from RC racing translated well into karting. Speaking on F1 TV's the Off The Grid, Piastri reflected on how seriously he took the competitions at the time, explaining that even racing remote control cars demanded the same concentration and competitive edge that would later serve him well on track.

Having met plenty of people from the racing world at these events, the McLaren man quickly found himself behind the wheel in a full-sized kart, and his rapid rise through the junior categories began.

Taking the leap of faith

At just 14 years old, he made the move from Australia to the United Kingdom to be closer to the heart of European motorsport, attending boarding school while balancing the demands of racing across the continent.

Life quickly became a mix of school, airports and racetracks. Travelling between countries most weekends, Piastri immersed himself in the world of junior single-seaters while building friendships with fellow young drivers navigating the same path, including American racer Logan Sargeant. It was also during his time at school where he met his partner Lily Zneimer, who has remained a constant presence alongside him as his career has progressed.

Saying goodbye to family and friends to move across the world is a difficult sacrifice for anyone, let alone a teenager, but it’s an insight into the drive and determination that Piastri possesses – it’s always been about chasing the racing dream.

The cars got bigger, but the results stayed the same, and success came quickly in Europe’s fiercely competitive junior categories. He won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, claimed the Formula 3 title in 2020, and then secured the Formula 2 championship in 2021 – at the time joining Charles Leclerc and George Russell in achieving back-to-back championships as a rookie.

In the space of just three seasons, Piastri had completed one of the most impressive climbs through the junior ranks in recent memory. Ultimately, it was McLaren that won the race for his services, after a dramatic Alpine switch, bringing the young Australian onto the grid and placing him alongside Lando Norris for the 2023 campaign.

Next in a long history of Australian racing talent

Australia has a proud history in F1, and Piastri is the latest driver to carry that legacy forward. Long before the Melbourne native arrived on the grid, Australian drivers had already left an indelible mark on the sport.

Sir Jack Brabham set the benchmark for Australian drivers in the 1960s. The Brisbane-born racer became the first Australian to win a World Championship when he secured the title in 1959, before adding further championships in 1960 and 1966. His final title remains one of the sport’s most remarkable achievements, as he became the only driver in history to win a title in a car bearing his own name with his Brabham team.

Alan Jones followed 14 years later, becoming Australia’s second World Champion when he won the title with Williams in 1980. Known for his fearless driving style and uncompromising competitiveness, Jones was a key figure in Williams’ rise to the front of the grid, and his success helped cement Australia’s reputation for producing tough, determined racers capable of taking on the best in the world.

In more recent decades, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo became the faces of Australian F1. Webber claimed nine Grand Prix victories and played a key role in Red Bull’s rise during the early 2010s, while Ricciardo captured fans around the world with his late braking overtakes and infectious personality, winning eight races and becoming one of the sport’s most likeable drivers.

With that support and the weight of Australia’s racing heritage behind him, Piastri now takes his place as the country’s newest star on the grid, and with a couple of Australians in Formula 3 this year, maybe there are a few more to come in the not-too-distant future.

Full circle moments in 2026

This weekend’s Australian Grand Prix marks a true homecoming for Piastri. The Melbourne native returns to Albert Park not just as a driver on the grid, but as one of the stars of the sport.

That support has extended well beyond the confines of the circuit too. Earlier in the week, Melbourne-based brand Quad Lock opened a dedicated Piastri pop-up that doubled as both a store and a tribute to the hometown driver. The space featured rare memorabilia, including one of Piastri’s early go-karts, alongside unseen footage documenting his journey from local karting prodigy to F1 contender.

Speaking during an interview on Channel 9’s Today Show, Piastri said: “It's a really cool event, and it's been nice to be able to lend out a little bit of memorabilia from the last few years.”

Fans have been testing their skills on racing simulators and challenges, plus picking up some exclusive merchandise and replica mini helmet prizes – a great way for them to celebrate Australia’s newest star ahead of his home race. But that’s not the only Piastri-themed Melbourne exclusive.

Opposite the pit lane on the main straight, the Piastri stand will be bringing the Australian energy to the race weekend, as the 24-year-old becomes the latest driver to have a grandstand named after him. Despite only entering his fourth season in F1, Piastri continues to take everything in his stride, and his impact on the sport and Australia is already notable – what’s next for the Melbourne man?