New Wasp Species Named After McLaren's Oscar Piastri

A newly-discovered wasp species from the Cretaceous period has been named after McLaren Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri. The ancient fossil, encased in amber, was studied by an international team of biologists who chose the name Gwesped piastrii because the amber's orange color reminded lead author Corentin Jouault of McLaren's iconic livery.

Why it matters:

The naming underscores how motorsport culture can permeate even the most unexpected scientific fields. For Piastri, it adds a quirky footnote to his career as he navigates a turbulent 2026 season, currently sitting sixth in the championship after a podium in Japan.

The details:

• The fossil was discovered in Myanmar and is stored at China's Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology.
• The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Palaeoworld, describes the specimen as the second species in the Lancepyrinae genus Gwesped.
• Researchers noted it can be distinguished from the first species by a higher number of flagellomeres and distinctive forewing venation.
• The specific epithet "piastrii" is treated as a noun in the genitive case, honoring Piastri's F1 achievements.

What's next:

Piastri, 25, is currently visiting the Isle of Man TT before heading to Monaco for next week's Grand Prix. The wasp's discovery adds a moment of curiosity amid a season where the Australian has faced early-race retirements in Melbourne and Shanghai, but shown promise with a second-place finish at Suzuka.