Ancient Amber Wasp Named After F1 Driver Oscar Piastri

A newly discovered species of ancient wasp has been named after McLaren Formula One driver Oscar Piastri, creating a unique link between paleontology and motorsport. The insect, named Gwesped piastrii, was discovered preserved in amber from northern Myanmar and dates to the middle Cretaceous period, approximately 98 million years ago.

The fossilized wasp measures just 1.15 millimeters in length. According to the research published in the journal Palaeoworld, the species was named to honor Piastri's achievements in Formula One. The researchers stated that the amber's colour reminded the lead author of the iconic orange livery used by the McLaren team.

The 25-year-old Australian driver, who made his Formula One debut in 2023, acknowledged the honour by updating his social media profile. The naming comes during a break in the racing calendar ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Piastri's recent on-track performance has been challenging. At the preceding Canadian Grand Prix, a strategic decision to start on intermediate tires did not succeed. During the race, Piastri was involved in a collision with Williams driver Alex Albon, which forced Albon to retire. Piastri received a ten-second...