Remember Nico Hulkenberg winning the GP2 Series title at the first attempt in 2009? After that triumph, seven seasons went by without a rookie claiming honours in Formula 1’s top junior category. Since then, three have done it in five seasons of the rebranded FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Charles Leclerc ended that wait with his searing streak to the 2017 F2 title with Prema Racing. A year later, George Russell’s efforts with ART Grand Prix brought him to F1 with the F2 crown ahead of fellow rookie Lando Norris and second-year racer Alex Albon. And we all know what they have achieved in the top tier.
In the years that have followed that epic 2018 F2 season, no superstars have followed on in the same manner – with one exception, all while shining as brightly as those named above and with a junior CV to better those of Leclerc, Russell and Norris.
That man is Oscar Piastri. The 21-year-old Australian became F1’s summer story following Fernando Alonso’s abandonment of Alpine for Aston Martin. Piastri will now make his F1 debut with McLaren in 2023
