A stinging tribute for Oscar Piastri

It is not every day that a Formula 1 driver finds themselves immortalized in the natural world, but Oscar Piastri has achieved exactly that. Researchers have officially named a newly-discovered species of flat wasp, found in Burmese amber in northern Myanmar, Gwesped piastrii.

The tribute to the McLaren driver is as fascinating as it is bizarre. According to the research article, the name was chosen to honour his achievements in the sport, with the amber's specific hue reminding the authors of the iconic McLaren orange. The discovery is considered a meaningful contribution to our understanding of morphological diversity within the genus.

While the Australian racer has yet to offer a formal statement, McLaren confirmed on Thursday evening that the nine-time Grand Prix winner is aware of the news. With the Monaco Grand Prix approaching on June 5-7, it will be interesting to see if this unique honour sparks any conversation among the rest of the field.