Oscar Piastri Achieves Rare F1 Grand Chelem, Ends McLaren's 27-Year Drought

Oscar Piastri secured a rare Grand Chelem at the Dutch Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his career and for McLaren, while extending his lead in the 2025 F1 Drivers' Championship.

Why it matters: Piastri's achievement is historic. He is the first Australian since Jack Brabham in 1966 to complete a Grand Chelem, equaling a 59-year record. This performance also ends McLaren's 27-year Grand Chelem drought, last achieved by Mika Häkkinen in 1998. It firmly positions Piastri as a strong contender for the drivers' title.

The details:

• Dominant Performance: Piastri started from pole position, led all 72 laps, set the fastest lap (0.108s faster than Lando Norris), and ultimately won the race—a perfect Grand Chelem.
• Championship Lead: Although aided by teammate Lando Norris's late engine failure (DNF), Piastri's win significantly extends his championship lead over Norris to 34 points, securing his seventh victory of the season.
• Historical Context:
  • Piastri is the 27th driver to achieve a Grand Chelem in F1 history.
  • Jack Brabham, who achieved Grand Chelems in 1960 and 1966, went on to win the drivers' title in both those years, setting a precedent Piastri aims to follow.
  • Notable drivers with Grand Chelems include Jim Clark (8), Lewis Hamilton (6), Max Verstappen (5), Alberto Ascari (5), and Michael Schumacher (5).

What's next: Piastri is now the clear favorite to become an F1 champion, joining fellow Australians Jack Brabham and Alan Jones. His dominant form suggests he will be a key figure to watch as the 2025 season progresses.