Oscar Piastri gets his own grandstand for 2026 Australian GP
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McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium with a trophy after finishing second place in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MELBOURNE – Formula One leader Oscar Piastri said that it was “surreal” to have a grandstand named after him at the season-opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix, by which time the McLaren driver could be returning home as world champion.
The Melbourne-born 24-year-old, who has yet to stand on the Albert Park podium in three attempts, leads British teammate Lando Norris by nine points after 14 of the season’s 24 rounds.
He has already won more races in a single season than any other Australian driver since the world championship started in 1950, with six so far in 2025 along with three second places.
“I’m very excited by the news that I’ll have my own grandstand at next year’s Australian Grand Prix,” Piastri said in an Australian Grand Prix statement.
“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.
“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.”
The stand will be on the main straight, opposite the pit lane, with the existing Fangio grandstand expanded and sectioned in two.
“Oscar has achieved incredible success in his early career across karting, F3, F2 and now in F1,” said Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Travis Auld.
“It is only fitting that we honour Oscar’s incredible rise in the sport with a dedicated grandstand at his home Grand Prix.
“Australians take enormous pride in supporting our sporting talent as they compete on the world stage, and now Oscar’s fans here at home will have the opportunity to take that support to another level by sitting in a grandstand named in his honour.”
However, fans who wish to snag seats in the new stand will have to be prepared to pay the price.
The Australian Grand Prix website has released details of the ticket packages for the 2026 race, with the cheapest option for a one-day ticket starting at US$290 (S$372) for Friday’s practice sessions.
There are one-day options for both Saturday (US$610) and race day on Sunday (US$835), and also a two-day pass for both days for US$950.
Piastri will join a number of other legendary Australian drivers who have their own grandstands.
Champions Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, along with retired F1 drivers Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo, also have stands named after them.
“It’s magnificent news for the event and for Oscar. It’s a reflection of his results so far, incredibly early in his career, that he’s managed to have the amount of podiums and victories that he’s had,” said Webber.
“Clearly he is very comfortable at the elite level, and making his presence felt, which is brilliant, and representing Australia in the way that the country likes to be represented.”
David Brabham, son of the late driver, added: “My father Sir Jack would be very proud to see another Aussie making waves on the world stage, and I’m sure even more fans will be out in force to support him after this year.”
Outside Australia, Norris and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also each have stands at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with Hamilton’s located along the main start-finish straight.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has grandstands named after him across the European leg of the F1 calendar, including his home Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. REUTERS
