Aussie F1 ace Oscar Piastri has made a subtle dig at his former junior team in a social media post announcing a monster new deal with McLaren.
Piastri has signed a two year extension on his existing deal, which will see him in the car until at least the end of 2026.
The new deal is the second-longest on the F1 grid, behind only Max Verstappen who is signed with Red Bull until the end of 2028.
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His McLaren teammate Lando Norris is signed only until the end of 2025.
"Stress-free contract announcement like always," Piastri posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The tweet was referring to his shambolic exit from the Alpine squad, which had backed him through his junior career, but failed to submit paperwork in time to keep him at the squad this year.
Following the news Fernando Alonso would leave for Aston Martin for 2023, Alpine announced Piastri would make his full-time debut, before Piastri issued his own statement saying he would not.
He was confirmed at McLaren weeks later, before the matter went to the Contract Recognition Board, which ruled in McLaren's favour.
https://twitter.com/OscarPiastri/status/1704441980829171788https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/1704436033742360962
The lawyer responsible for the initial blunder was later sacked.
In a statement, Piastri said he was "thrilled" by the extension.
"I want to be fighting it out at the front of the grid with this team and I am excited by the vision and foundations that are already being laid to get us there," he said.
"The welcome that I have received and the relationships that I have built make this feel like home already.
"The team's consistent commitment in me has made me feel incredibly valued and the desire from the team for me to be part of its long-term future made this an easy decision.
"To be wanted like that and for the team to show so much belief in me after just half a season, means a lot.
"Stability is a huge advantage in this early part of my career and to have that with a brand as prestigious as McLaren gives me the opportunity to continue the work that we've started.
"We've enjoyed some good moments together in my rookie season, but I'm excited to work together with everyone at MTC over the coming years to create some great moments."
McLaren Team principal Andrea Stella said extending Piastri was "an easy decision for the team to make".
"Oscar is an asset to McLaren and constantly impresses with his performance, work ethic and attitude," Stella said.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown said Piastri was "an incredible talent".
Confirmation of the new deal comes off the back of Piastri's barnstorming drive to seventh in the Singapore Grand Prix after Lance Stroll's monster crash in qualifying the day before relegated him to a 17th place start on the grid.
After a disastrous start to the season, Piastri scored his first points in F1 in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix in March, and scored more points in Monaco.
A raft of fresh upgrades for the team's home race at the British Grand Prix in July proved immediately effective, and he finished a stunning fourth.
He led his first laps in the sport at the start of the sprint race ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Piastri's first race under the new deal will be at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
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