A new book by WA motorsport journalist and author Andrew van Leeuwen charts Melburnian driver Oscar Piastri’s rise from rookie to title contender in just three years.
Oscar Piastri: The Rapid Rise Of An F1 Star is published on March 3.
In it, van Leeuwen gives readers an insider’s look into Piastri’s rise to F1 stardom, from his racing roots to a race-by-race account of the young Australian’s fight for the 2025 championship.
“Even before the 2025 season, Oscar Piastri had caught the attention of the world,” van Leeuwen writes in the book’s conclusion. “From his impressive rookie season in 2023 to a 2024 campaign that saw him establish himself as a race winner at the pinnacle of motorsport, he was already an F1 superstar. But the wild 2025 title fight, with its twists and turns and unending controversy, turned him into a household name — one that transcended motorsport fandom.”
The book’s a comfortable, easy read. Andrew is smart writer.
Andrew van Leeuwen has been a motorsport journalist for 20 years — having early on been West Wheels’ motorsport writer.
In June 2011, he reported work had officially started on an upgrade to Barbagallo Raceway.
“Ground was broken early last week at the Wanneroo track with the demolition of the 35-year-old control tower that sits on the infield at the start/finish line,” he wrote.
“Once completely cleared, an infield pit lane will be built, complete with garages, for V8 Supercars to use during their annual trip west.”
The same year, he reported endurance racing had returned to Barbagallo Raceway, with the running of the famous Wanneroo 300.
He also charted WA F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo’s rise, with his last-minute inclusion in the Indian Grand Prix.
In 2011, he had commented on Ricciardo going into Formula 1’s summer break with by far his best performance in the World Championship under his belt, after a commendable drive in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
And Andrew stepped outside his motorsport reporting for us. In 2012, he wrote about the world premiere of the Yaris Hybrid and a new Honda CR-V with a 2.2 diesel engine.
Andrew has won multiple journalist of the year awards from the Supercars Media Association and Motorsport Australia, and is the editorial director at Speedcafe.
This is his second book, following Endurance: The Toby Price Story.
+ Oscar Piastri: The Rapid Rise Of An F1 Star is published by Penguin Random House Australia as a trade paperback ($36.99), eBook and audiobook.
