Formula 1 News: Piastri first 3-time rookie award winner

Australian McLaren F1 rookie driver Oscar Piastri has become the first driver to win the Autosport Rookie of the Year award for a third time.

After finishing a solid ninth in his first Formula 1 season, highlighted by a Sprint win on Saturday of the Qatar GP weekend, Piastri was voted as the leading rookie in the world by Autosport readers.

The 22-year-old beat Liam Lawson, Logan Sargeant and F3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.

Piastri has won the accolade twice before following his Formula 3 and Formula 2 championship seasons.

“Thank you very much to everyone who voted for me as rookie of the year,” said Piastri in a pre-recorded video, who was unable to attend the event with McLaren legend Mika Hakkinen accepting the trophy on stage.

“It has been a remarkable year after such a great turnaround for the team after a tough start, culminating in a couple of podiums and the sprint victory in Qatar.”