'Very cool, very special': Oscar Piastri to have a stand named after him at 2026 Melbourne Grand Prix

Australian Formula 1 star Oscar Piastri has revealed he will have a stand named after him at next year's Melbourne Grand Prix.

There is a considerable chance Piastri will suit up in Australia next March as the reigning F1 world champion, with the Melbourne product leading this year's driver standings on 284 points with 10 rounds remaining in the 24-race season.

In March this year, disaster struck Piastri on his home track when he spun out in wet conditions. The McLaren driver was placed second and had an opportunity to steal the win, but lost control and finished ninth.

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He will be out for redemption next year, in front of a contingent of fans watching on from a temporary stand on pit straight named after him.

"I will be having my own grandstand, which is pretty surreal," Piastri said on Instagram.

"It still feels weird racing at home. It's very cool racing at home, but I'm still at the level of when I was a little kid just hearing the cars go around the track.

"[It'll be] very, very cool, very special to have my own grandstand.

"It'll be on the pit straight and you should be able to see me in the garage from the grandstand ... We'll throw in some merch, as well, so there's some bonus goodies in there for you.

"I'm really excited to have my own grandstand.

"Thanks for everyone behind the scenes who have worked on this."

Australia's Daniel Ricciardo used to have a temporary stand set up in recognition of him when the F1 circuit would reach Melbourne.

Ricciardo doesn't currently have an F1 seat, having been sacked as a Racing Bulls driver mid-season last year, but there are two Australians competing this year in Piastri and Jack Doohan.

"It's wonderful to have the opportunity to honour Oscar with his own grandstand right here at Melbourne Park," said Australian Grand Prix chief executive Travis Auld, speaking on Nine's Today.

"He's obviously a Melbourne boy, and he's having a remarkable start to his F1 career."