On a rain-soaked Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps, Oscar Piastri didn’t just etch his name deeper into Formula 1 history – he carved out a moment of profound personal significance.
The 24-year-old McLaren driver clinched his sixth victory of the 2025 season at the Belgian Grand Prix, surpassing Aussie legends Jack Brabham and Alan Jones for the most wins by an Australian in a single F1 campaign.
Yet, for Piastri, the moment was less about records and more about family, as he dedicated his triumph to his grandfather, Hugh Macfadyen, who was there to witness his grandson’s brilliance.
A Victory Years in the Making
“It’s the first race outside of Australia that he’s come to,” Piastri said of his Shepparton-based grandfather, quoted by Speedcafe.
“One of my sisters, in Spain, that was her first race outside of Australia, and that was a good weekend. Now my grandfather the same, so maybe I need to get my family members one by one for the rest of the races.
“It seemed like the best person to dedicate it to. It’s a nice thing to do.”
Piastri marked the occasion by writing a heartfelt message on his champagne bottle: “Dear grandad, I guess you need to come to races more often too!”
For Hugh Macfadyen, the long journey to Belgium was far more than a holiday – it was a full-circle moment, witnessing his grandson rise to the pinnacle of world motorsport after years spent traveling the Australian karting circuit together.
Speaking at a Rotary Club event in Shepparton just weeks earlier, Macfadyen reflected on the early signs of Oscar’s talent — and the many miles they covered together.
“He had a go at go-karting and James Sera said, ‘This kid’s got something,’” Macfadyen recalled to the local crowd.
“He raced all over Australia. I was fortunate to be able to go to Tassie, New South Wales, Adelaide, and Queensland as a chaperone for him because he was only little.
“I used to go with him on the boat and his dad had to pay, which I thought was really good.”
As Piastri continues his record-breaking campaign, it’s clear the championship leader’s motivation extends far beyond podiums and trophies. In Spa, the roar of the engine was matched only by the beating heart of a family moment years in the making.
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