Oscar Piastri wins 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship title
Renault Sport Academy driver Oscar Piastri today secured the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship title in a spectacular season-finale at Mugello, Italy. The 19-year-old Australian capped a strong year in a nail-biting final two races of the 2020 FIA Formula 3 season to secure the Championship in his rookie year by three points.
Oscar is the latest in a line of talented junior drivers to join the Renault Sport Academy – a programme that aims to find and nurture young racing drivers through the junior racing championships – with the overall objective to place an Academy driver in the Formula 1 race seat.
Oscar Piastri:
“I’m super happy to win the FIA Formula 3 Championship. It’s been a fast season, not the most straightforward, but we did just enough in today’s race to seal the deal. Today’s race was chaotic. I had a really good start and I saw Logan [Sargeant] go off so I knew I had him covered. It’s not the way I wanted it to go for him, but I guess that’s the game. Theo [Pourchaire] was quick and I had to keep pushing to combat his speed and make as many positions as I could. We just about held on, so I’m very happy to have won it! I’d like to say thanks to Prema Racing for all their hard work through the year, the Renault Sport Academy for their support and my sponsors. We’ll continue to push ready for the next challenge.”
Mia Sharizman, Renault Sport Academy Director:
“I am delighted for Oscar today. To have taken back-to-back championship wins in F3 and Eurocup, two hugely competitive series, shows his pedigree and his maturity. He has been the most consistent driver in the field this year and a hugely level-headed driver. These qualities will stand him well for the senior championships. It’s been tough for him not having parents in Europe for the whole year and he has put his trust entirely in us and his management. For the RSA it shows that the programme is strong. Let’s enjoy this.”
Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director, Renault Sport Racing:
“I would like to offer our full congratulations to Oscar for his superb title success. I am very proud of the Renault Sport Academy and the choices made to recruit and nurture young talent through the ranks. This latest title brings even more credibility to the programme as a whole. It also demonstrates the robustness of the motorsport ladder, including Formula Renault Eurocup. We have seen it is a solid foundation for young drivers as well as an indication of driver potential. More than ever, Renault is dedicated to developing young talent and we look forward to pushing even further with our renewed commitment to the sport.”
FIA Formula 3, Prema Racing
Age: 19
Nationality: Australian
2020 stats:
Wins: 2
Podiums: 6
Best Grid Position: 3 (2)
Points: 164
Previous Championships:
2020: 1st, FIA Formula 3
2019: 1st, Formula Renault Eurocup
2018: 8th, Formula Renault Eurocup
2017: 2nd, British Formula 4
Oscar signed for the Renault Sport Academy on the back of securing the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup Drivers’ Championship.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Oscar has a wealth of racing experience having started karting in 2011 before transitioning to single-seater racing in 2016 when he debuted in selected rounds of the 2016 Formula 4 UAE Championship.
Oscar then raced with Arden in the British Formula 4 Championship, finishing runner-up in the Drivers’ standings after six wins and a further nine podiums. A year later, in between school exams, Oscar finished eighth in the Formula Renault Eurocup with three podiums to his name before taking the 2019 title with seven victories from 20 races. Oscar joined the Prema Racing team for the 2020 FIA Formula 3 season, where he secured the Drivers’ Championship following six podiums and two race victories.