Oscar Piastri seeking Monaco success as McLaren marks 1,000 F1 grands prix

On an historic occasion for one of Formula 1’s most storied teams, Oscar Piastri is hoping to add silverware to McLaren’s special day in Monaco.

McLaren will mark its 1,000th F1 grand prix this weekend on the streets of Monte Carlo, the site for its maiden race back in 1966.

Australian Oscar Piastri enters this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix sixth in the drivers’ championship, following five turbulent race weekends that have produced two brilliant podiums and two failures to start. 

McLaren has unveiled a special livery for this weekend to mark its 1,000th grand prix, and Piastri has said in the lead-up that he is determined to celebrate the team’s milestone with a terrific result. 

“One thousand grands prix is a huge achievement for the team, and it is a privilege to be out there representing McLaren for the occasion,” Piastri said. 

“The car looks mega, and it feels fitting that this celebration has lined up to be where the team first raced in the championship.

“We’ll do what we can to push hard in the aim of bringing home some silverware this weekend to commemorate the moment.”

Piastri has been successful at Monaco in his three previous F1 grands prix.

He has finished on the podium in each of the previous two years and will be hoping for that form to continue after a horrid race in Canada two weekends ago, where he was put on the wrong tyres to start the race, then copped a penalty which ended his hopes of scoring points.

Teammate Lando Norris also suffered his fair share of misfortune in Canada, starting the race on the wrong tyres before retiring just after half-distance. 

The reigning world champion sits fifth in the drivers’ standings, 10 points ahead of Piastri and 73 adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

McLaren, the winners of the last two constructors’ titles, sit third in that competition on 106 points, 41 behind Ferrari in second and 113 adrift of Mercedes. 

Mercedes has won all five grands prix in 2026, with Antonelli claiming four of those triumphs. 

The Silver Arrows have also won two of the three sprint races held this year, with Norris’s sprint race win in Miami the only time this season that a Mercedes driver has not won a race.

ABC Sport will have a live blog of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, June 7 from 9pm AEST