F1 news
F1 / NEWS & CONTEXT
Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri meets young guest during McLaren’s Austin GP weekend

Archive photograph: Oscar Piastri · 2026-03-15Archive photo · 2026-03-15 · Liauzh · CC BY 4.0

A young guest met Oscar Piastri during McLaren’s Austin weekend; the team’s roundup also recalls a country-music quiz, sports visitors and the 50th anniversary of James Hunt’s 1976 title.

McLaren’s post-race roundup of the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin highlighted a Saturday visit by young guest Adriano, who joined the team thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. McLaren said he met his hero, Oscar Piastri, gave him a poster he had made and got a look at what happens during a Grand Prix weekend.

McLaren also challenged Lando and Oscar to distinguish country lyrics from quotations by Formula 1 drivers; the team described the answers as mixed.

Visitors to McLaren’s garage included five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum, who stopped by on Thursday and took part in challenges with Oscar, and San Antonio Spurs player Harrison Barnes, who visited before Sunday’s race. Players from the Texas Longhorns football team and Chicago Cubs centre-fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong also looked around.

McLaren also used the weekend to mark 50 years since James Hunt’s 1976 world title. The anniversary fell on Saturday.

Sources 01
  1. PRIMARY SOURCESPOTTED IN THE PADDOCK: THE 2026 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIXCountry music knowledge put to the test, an anniversary celebrated, and Stateside sports stars shining in the paddockMcLaren F1 · Team statement; interested source

This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.