Most racing drivers dream of having fast cars named after them. Oscar Piastri just got something way cooler—and way older. A newly discovered wasp species preserved in Burmese amber for roughly 100 million years has been officially named Gwesped Piastrii, honoring the McLaren Formula One driver for his achievements on track and, delightfully, because the amber’s color reminded researchers of iconic McLaren orange.
The wasp itself comes from the middle Cretaceous period, the era when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Finding it intact in amber from northern Myanmar is the kind of paleontological find that makes the history books. But naming it after a living, 25-year-old racing driver? That’s the kind of unlikely intersection of worlds that keeps science weird and wonderful. The naming was published in the academic journal Palaeoworld’s June issue, cementing Piastri’s place in the fossil record alongside creatures that went extinct 65 million years ago.
For context, Piastri made his Formula One debut in 2023 and has already notched nine grand prix victories—a solid early career by any measure. The Australian was taking a weekend off from racing when the news broke, currently enjoying the Isle of Man TT races before heading to the June 7 Monaco Grand Prix. As of the article’s writing, he hadn’t yet commented on joining the ranks of ancient insects, though one imagines the reaction will be somewhere between bewildered and absolutely delighted.
What’s genuinely charming here is the thinking behind the honor. The researchers didn’t just pick a famous name out of a hat. The amber’s warm, glowing orange hue sparked the connection to McLaren’s legendary livery and, by extension, to one of the team’s brightest current talents. It’s the kind of thoughtful, playful connection that reminds us science doesn’t always have to be stuffy. Piastri is now immortalized in a way most athletes can only dream of—not on a statue or a trophy, but in the actual geological record. How many drivers can say that?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
